Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Cleveland, Ohio (September 2026)
In Cleveland, Ohio as of September 2026, 399 carriers are actively hiring W2 company drivers. HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,100 and an average $10,000 sign-on bonus. PREMIER TRANSPORTATION follows at $1,950/week. Cleveland anchors I-90 on Lake Erie with a major port handling bulk commodities (iron ore, limestone, cement, salt), and the I-71 / I-77 / I-90 grid connects automotive manufacturing, steel, and chemical corridor loads across northeast Ohio.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Cleveland, Ohio vs Ohio: the numbers that diverge
| Cleveland, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $1,840 | $1,899 | -3% |
| Sign-on bonus rate | 38% | 43% | -5 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 82% | 71% | +11 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 26% | 35% | -9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 74% | 65% | +9 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 90% | 82% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Cleveland, Ohio's biggest divergence from Ohio is on riders-allowed policies, 11 points above the state baseline.
The trucking companies leading Cleveland, Ohio this month
The top of the list is HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC at $2,100/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC — $2,100/wk
HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC tops the Cleveland, Ohio ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. The carrier ranks in the 94th percentile for weekly pay in Cleveland, Ohio. Top FMCSA dimension here is hours-of-service compliance, in the 99th percentile.
HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC offers the highest sign-on bonus among Cleveland, Ohio's top 10 — $10,000.
#2PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $1,950/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION pays above the 84th percentile on weekly pay for the Cleveland, Ohio market. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 98th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC's weekly pay ranks in the 95th percentile across Cleveland, Ohio. Top FMCSA dimension here is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 93rd percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #5 TDR TRANSPORT at $2,200/wk, #6 Big Foot Transport LLC at $2,650/wk, #7 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #8 MCK TRUCKING INC at $1,700/wk, #9 KEYSTONE TRANSPORT SERVICES LLC at $1,965/wk, #10 ECM ENERGY SERVICES INC at $1,950/wk.
What Cleveland, Ohio drivers actually run
26% of Cleveland, Ohio's active CDL postings are regional and 66% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (8%).
Across Cleveland, Ohio CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 24% dedicated, 78% take-truck-home, 63% pet-friendly, 64% riders-allowed.
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 Cleveland, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Cleveland, 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 September 2026.