Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Ames, Iowa (May 2026)
338 W2 trucking carriers are currently posting jobs in Ames, Iowa as of May 2026. KEEP TRUCKING LLC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. True Transport Inc. follows at $2,250/week. Iowa freight is shaped by its agricultural output — corn, soybeans, and ethanol — moving on I-80 east-west and I-35 north-south, with Des Moines serving as the primary distribution crossroads.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
The trucking companies leading Ames, Iowa this month
The top of the list is KEEP TRUCKING LLC at $2,200/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1KEEP TRUCKING LLC — $2,200/wk
KEEP TRUCKING LLC is number-one in Ames, Iowa this month on the composite ranking. KEEP TRUCKING LLC's weekly pay ranks in the 95th percentile across Ames, Iowa. KEEP TRUCKING LLC ranks in the 88th percentile for controlled-substances compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. pays above the 92nd percentile on weekly pay for the Ames, Iowa market. Strongest FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance — 99th percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
Despite ranking below #1, True Transport Inc. outpays the leader on weekly average — $2,250/week.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC pays above the 90th percentile on weekly pay for the Ames, Iowa market. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC's FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 94th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #5 HMD TRUCKING INC at $1,800/wk, #6 Great Plains Trucking Inc. at $1,750/wk, #7 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #8 KOTTKE TRUCKING INC at $2,000/wk, #9 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,700/wk, #10 Badger Express LLC at $1,700/wk.
What Ames, Iowa drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Ames, Iowa this month, 16% are regional and 82% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 2%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Ames, Iowa postings; dedicated routes at 23%; take-truck-home at 84%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 68% and riders-allowed at 70%.
Where Ames, Iowa differs from the Iowa baseline
| Ames, Iowa | Iowa top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riders-allowed policies | 86% | 75% | +11 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 80% | 71% | +9 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, riders-allowed policies is where Ames, Iowa differs most from Iowa — 11 points above statewide.
Driving CDL in Iowa
Iowa freight is shaped by the state's agricultural output — corn, soybeans, ethanol, pork — moving on the I-80 east-west and I-35 north-south corridors. Des Moines serves as the primary distribution crossroads. Cedar Rapids and Davenport (Quad Cities) add manufacturing and food-processing freight. Iowa runs a moderate graduated state income tax; living costs are among the lowest in the Midwest. Winter is severe — wind off the prairie plus drifting snow plus black ice on I-80 makes route timing genuinely consequential from December through March.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Ames, Iowa
- CDL driver salary in Ames, Iowa
- Best trucking companies in Iowa
How we compile these rankings
Four weighted components. Compensation carries 30% and includes pay percentile, sign-on bonus tier, guaranteed-pay availability, and settlement frequency. FMCSA safety carries 25%, built from five SAFER dimensions. Benefits carry 25%, scored separately for W2 versus owner-operator carriers. Operational performance carries 20%, measuring application responsiveness and fleet scale. Updated May 2026.