Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (September 2026)
Cedar Rapids, Iowa's W2 trucking market includes 338 active carriers as of September 2026. 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 Cedar Rapids, 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 leads the Cedar Rapids, Iowa market on combined pay and ranking score this month. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 93rd percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Cedar Rapids, Iowa median.
#2FW TRUCKING — $1,750/wk
FW TRUCKING's top FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 92nd percentile. FW TRUCKING responds to driver applications more reliably than the Cedar Rapids, Iowa median.
#3PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $1,950/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION's weekly pay ranks in the 88th percentile across Cedar Rapids, Iowa. PREMIER TRANSPORTATION's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 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.
Lane mix and benefits across Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The route mix in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this month tilts OTR: 18% regional, 79% OTR, 2% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Cedar Rapids, Iowa CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 23% dedicated, 82% take-truck-home, 68% pet-friendly, 70% riders-allowed.
How Cedar Rapids, Iowa compares to Iowa
| Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Iowa top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pet-friendly fleets | 78% | 67% | +11 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 86% | 76% | +10 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 94% | 88% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
The largest gap is on pet-friendly fleets: Cedar Rapids, Iowa sits 11 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 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- CDL driver salary in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Best trucking companies in Iowa
Where this data comes from
The score is built from four buckets. Thirty percent compensation, drawn from real active job postings and modified by bonus and settlement structure. Twenty-five percent safety, from FMCSA SAFER. Twenty-five percent benefits, scored hiring-type-aware. Twenty percent operational performance, drawn from how carriers actually behave toward applicants. Updated September 2026.