Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Cincinnati, Ohio (May 2026)
Cincinnati, Ohio's W2 trucking market includes 447 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. Cincinnati anchors the I-71 / I-75 / I-275 junction near the Ohio-Kentucky border, with the DHL Americas hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport, P&G manufacturing, and dense automotive supply-chain freight.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Cincinnati, Ohio's top trucking carriers right now
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 Cincinnati, Ohio 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 Cincinnati, Ohio market. KEEP TRUCKING LLC's top FMCSA dimension is controlled-substances compliance, in the 88th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Cincinnati, Ohio.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. sits in the 97th percentile for weekly pay among Cincinnati, Ohio carriers. On unsafe-driving avoidance, the carrier ranks in the 99th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. True Transport Inc. responds to driver applications more reliably than the Cincinnati, Ohio median.
True Transport Inc. actually pays more weekly than the top-ranked carrier — $2,250/week.
#3Covenant Transport Inc — $1,762/wk
Covenant Transport Inc's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 94th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #5 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #6 MCK TRUCKING INC at $1,700/wk, #7 GATEWAY DISTRIBUTION at $1,750/wk, #8 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,700/wk, #9 ECM ENERGY SERVICES INC at $1,950/wk, #10 Badger Express LLC at $1,700/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Cincinnati, Ohio
The route mix in Cincinnati, Ohio this month tilts OTR: 25% regional, 68% OTR, 5% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Cincinnati, Ohio CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 24% dedicated, 78% take-truck-home, 65% pet-friendly, 65% riders-allowed.
How Cincinnati, Ohio compares to Ohio
| Cincinnati, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-truck-home | 94% | 85% | +9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 73% | 67% | +6 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 81% | 75% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, take-truck-home is where Cincinnati, Ohio differs most from Ohio — 9 points above statewide.
Driving CDL in Ohio
Ohio sits at the center of the US manufacturing belt and runs about as much through-freight as any state. I-70, I-71, I-75, and the Ohio Turnpike form a freight grid that's flat, generally well-maintained, and forgiving for newer drivers — Ohio is one of the better states to gain initial OTR experience. The Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati metros each anchor distinct lane profiles (auto, distribution, and pharmaceutical respectively). Winter operational risk is real — lake-effect off Erie, freezing rain in the central part of the state — but less extreme than the Great Plains states. Ohio cost of living is below the national average, which makes the income math work better than the headline pay numbers suggest.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Cincinnati, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Best trucking companies in Ohio
The methodology behind the rankings
The composite score is 30% compensation, 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits, and 20% operational performance. Pay percentiles are computed against carriers currently hiring in each market; FMCSA percentiles come from SAFER and weight unsafe-driving and hours-of-service violations 2× heavier than the other three dimensions. Updated May 2026.