Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Dayton, Ohio (May 2026)
424 W2 trucking carriers are currently posting jobs in Dayton, Ohio as of May 2026. KEEP TRUCKING LLC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. True Transport Inc. follows at $2,250/week. Ohio sits at the center of the US manufacturing belt, with I-70 / I-71 / I-75 forming a freight grid through Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati and major automotive, steel, and chemical supply chains driving consistent lane demand.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where CDL pay is strongest in Dayton, 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 is number-one in Dayton, Ohio this month on the composite ranking. Weekly pay here lands in the 95th percentile across Dayton, Ohio. Top FMCSA dimension here is controlled-substances compliance, in the 88th percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. sits in the 97th percentile for weekly pay among Dayton, Ohio carriers. Strongest FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance — 99th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
Despite ranking below #1, True Transport Inc. outpays the leader on weekly average — $2,250/week.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC sits in the 95th percentile for weekly pay among Dayton, Ohio carriers. On unsafe-driving avoidance, the carrier ranks in the 94th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/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 GATEWAY DISTRIBUTION at $1,750/wk, #9 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/wk, #10 ECM ENERGY SERVICES INC at $1,950/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Dayton, Ohio
The route mix in Dayton, Ohio this month tilts OTR: 25% regional, 68% OTR, 5% local, 2% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Dayton, Ohio postings; dedicated routes at 24%; take-truck-home at 78%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 65% and riders-allowed at 65%.
Dayton, Ohio vs Ohio: the numbers that diverge
| Dayton, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-truck-home | 94% | 85% | +9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 76% | 67% | +9 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 82% | 75% | +7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, take-truck-home is where Dayton, 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 Dayton, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Dayton, Ohio
- Best trucking companies in Ohio
The methodology behind the rankings
Four weighted components. Compensation carries 30% and includes pay percentile, sign-on bonus tier, guaranteed-pay availability, and settlement frequency. FMCSA safety carries 25%, built from five SAFER dimensions. Benefits carry 25%, scored separately for W2 versus owner-operator carriers. Operational performance carries 20%, measuring application responsiveness and fleet scale. Updated May 2026.