Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (May 2026)
Cedar Rapids, Iowa's W2 trucking market includes 344 active carriers 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 Cedar Rapids, 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 tops the Cedar Rapids, Iowa ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. KEEP TRUCKING LLC pays above the 90th percentile on weekly pay for the Cedar Rapids, Iowa market. KEEP TRUCKING LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on controlled-substances compliance — 88th percentile. KEEP TRUCKING LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Cedar Rapids, Iowa median.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc.'s weekly pay ranks in the 97th percentile across Cedar Rapids, Iowa. True Transport Inc.'s FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 99th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
True Transport Inc. doesn't top the ranking but offers higher weekly pay than #1 — $2,250/week.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC pays above the 90th percentile on weekly pay for the Cedar Rapids, Iowa market. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC ranks in the 94th percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data.
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 KEN GRAHAM TRUCKING INC at $2,000/wk, #9 KOTTKE TRUCKING INC at $2,000/wk, #10 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,700/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The route mix in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this month tilts OTR: 17% regional, 80% OTR, 1% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Cedar Rapids, Iowa CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 22% dedicated, 83% take-truck-home, 68% pet-friendly, 70% riders-allowed.
How Cedar Rapids, Iowa compares to Iowa
| Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Iowa top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riders-allowed policies | 84% | 75% | +9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 78% | 71% | +7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on riders-allowed policies: 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 May 2026.