Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Cleveland, Ohio (May 2026)
In Cleveland, Ohio as of May 2026, 408 carriers are actively hiring W2 company drivers. KEEP TRUCKING LLC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. True Transport Inc. follows at $2,250/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 May 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 | $1,821 | $1,881 | -3% |
| Take-truck-home | 94% | 85% | +9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 76% | 67% | +9 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 82% | 75% | +7 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 29% | 35% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Cleveland, Ohio's biggest divergence from Ohio is on take-truck-home, 9 points above the state baseline.
The trucking companies leading Cleveland, Ohio 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 leads the Cleveland, Ohio market on combined pay and ranking score this month. Pay sits above the 90th percentile in the Cleveland, Ohio market. KEEP TRUCKING LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on controlled-substances compliance — 88th percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags KEEP TRUCKING LLC as a responsive employer.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. sits in the 97th 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.
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 top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 94th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #5 MCK TRUCKING INC at $1,700/wk, #6 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #7 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,700/wk, #8 ECM ENERGY SERVICES INC at $1,950/wk, #9 Badger Express LLC at $1,700/wk, #10 JS HELWIG & SON LLC at $1,850/wk.
What Cleveland, Ohio drivers actually run
25% of Cleveland, Ohio's active CDL postings are regional and 68% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (7%).
Across Cleveland, Ohio CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 24% dedicated, 79% 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 May 2026.