Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Ankeny, Iowa (September 2026)
Through September 2026, 330 carriers in Ankeny, Iowa employ W2 company drivers across the lanes Lanefinder tracks. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads with an average weekly pay of $1,700 and an average $5,000 sign-on bonus. FW TRUCKING follows at $1,750/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 September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
The trucking companies leading Ankeny, Iowa this month
The top of the list is WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $1,700/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $1,700/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC tops the Ankeny, Iowa ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. Strongest FMCSA dimension is driver fitness — 93rd percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2FW TRUCKING — $1,750/wk
FW TRUCKING ranks in the 92nd percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data. FW TRUCKING tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#3PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $1,950/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION's weekly pay ranks in the 87th percentile across Ankeny, Iowa. Top FMCSA dimension here is driver fitness, in the 98th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #5 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #6 TDR TRANSPORT at $2,200/wk, #7 Great Plains Trucking Inc. at $1,750/wk, #8 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #9 Badger Express LLC at $1,700/wk, #10 Diaz Stone & Pallet Inc. at $1,750/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Ankeny, Iowa
Of active CDL postings in Ankeny, Iowa this month, 16% are regional and 81% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 3%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Ankeny, Iowa postings; dedicated routes at 23%; take-truck-home at 83%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 68% and riders-allowed at 71%.
How Ankeny, Iowa compares to Iowa
| Ankeny, Iowa | Iowa top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riders-allowed policies | 88% | 76% | +12 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 78% | 67% | +11 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 94% | 88% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
The largest gap is on riders-allowed policies: Ankeny, Iowa sits 12 points above the Iowa baseline.
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 Ankeny, Iowa
- CDL driver salary in Ankeny, Iowa
- Best trucking companies in Iowa
The methodology behind the rankings
Compensation (30%): pay percentile + sign-on bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement frequency. FMCSA safety (25%): weighted percentile across vehicle maintenance, unsafe driving, hours-of-service, driver fitness, and controlled substances. Benefits (25%): hiring-type-aware. Operational (20%): driver-application responsiveness, modulated by fleet scale. Updated September 2026.