Updated July 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (July 2026)
Cedar Rapids, Iowa's W2 trucking market includes 327 active carriers as of July 2026. True Transport Inc. leads with an average weekly pay of $2,250. Forest Brook Trucking LLC follows at $1,600/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 July 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 True Transport Inc. at $2,250/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. tops the Cedar Rapids, Iowa ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. Pay sits above the 91st percentile in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa market. True Transport Inc.'s FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 99th percentile.
#2Forest Brook Trucking LLC — $1,600/wk
Forest Brook Trucking LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 97th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
#3PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $1,950/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION's weekly pay ranks in the 87th percentile across Cedar Rapids, Iowa. PREMIER TRANSPORTATION's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 97th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #5 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #6 Great Plains Trucking Inc. at $1,750/wk, #7 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #8 Diaz Stone & Pallet Inc. at $1,750/wk, #9 KEN GRAHAM TRUCKING INC at $2,000/wk, #10 Badger Express LLC at $1,700/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The route mix in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this month tilts OTR: 18% regional, 80% OTR, 1% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Cedar Rapids, Iowa CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 23% dedicated, 81% take-truck-home, 67% pet-friendly, 69% riders-allowed.
How Cedar Rapids, Iowa compares to Iowa
| Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Iowa top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $1,934 | $1,886 | +3% |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 78% | 69% | +9 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 82% | 73% | +9 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
The largest gap is on pet-friendly fleets: Cedar Rapids, Iowa sits 9 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 July 2026.