Updated July 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Cleveland, Ohio (July 2026)
In Cleveland, Ohio as of July 2026, 396 carriers are actively hiring W2 company drivers. True Transport Inc. leads with an average weekly pay of $2,250. LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY follows at $1,680/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 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 Cleveland, Ohio 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. leads the Cleveland, Ohio market on combined pay and ranking score this month. True Transport Inc. sits in the 96th percentile for weekly pay among Cleveland, Ohio carriers. On unsafe-driving avoidance, the carrier ranks in the 99th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. Lanefinder's application data flags True Transport Inc. as a responsive employer.
#2LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY — $1,680/wk
LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY ranks in the 91st percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Cleveland, Ohio.
#3Forest Brook Trucking LLC — $1,600/wk
Forest Brook Trucking LLC ranks in the 97th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. Forest Brook Trucking LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Cleveland, Ohio median.
Also in the top 10: #4 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,950/wk, #5 CARGORX DRY CAPACITY at $1,900/wk, #6 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #7 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #8 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/wk, #9 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #10 MCK TRUCKING INC at $1,700/wk.
What Cleveland, Ohio drivers actually run
26% of Cleveland, Ohio's active CDL postings are regional and 68% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (6%).
Across Cleveland, Ohio CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 23% dedicated, 78% take-truck-home, 63% pet-friendly, 63% riders-allowed.
Cleveland, Ohio vs Ohio: the numbers that diverge
| Cleveland, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $1,803 | $1,864 | -3% |
| Take-truck-home | 94% | 85% | +9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 76% | 71% | +5 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 78% | 73% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
Cleveland, Ohio's biggest divergence from Ohio is on take-truck-home, 9 points above the state baseline.
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 July 2026.