Updated November 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Dayton, Ohio (November 2026)
418 W2 trucking carriers are currently posting jobs in Dayton, Ohio as of November 2026. Herrington Transportation Inc. leads with an average weekly pay of $2,000. FW TRUCKING follows at $1,800/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 November 2026
McLeod Express LLC at #4, MNS1 EXPRESS INC at #8, and Mountain States L.P. Gas at #10 are new to the top 50 in Dayton, Ohio. Biggest climbs: Herrington Transportation Inc. (#39 → #1), FW TRUCKING (#21 → #2), and True Transport Inc. (#15 → #5). Biggest fall: LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY (#1 → #25). KEYSTONE TRANSPORT SERVICES LLC (was #8) left the top 50. Elsewhere in the top 50, 4 carriers joined, 6 left, and 32 changed rank.
All changes since October 2026
Where CDL pay is strongest in Dayton, Ohio this month
The top of the list is Herrington Transportation Inc. at $2,000/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1Herrington Transportation Inc. — $2,000/wk
Herrington Transportation Inc. leads the Dayton, Ohio market on combined pay and ranking score this month. Pay sits above the 86th percentile in the Dayton, Ohio market. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Dayton, Ohio.
#2FW TRUCKING — $1,800/wk
FW TRUCKING is up from #21 last month, one of the largest jumps in the Dayton, Ohio ranking. Strongest FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance — 90th percentile.
#3HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC — $2,100/wk
HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC's weekly pay ranks in the 93rd percentile across Dayton, Ohio. HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 99th percentile.
For sign-on cash, HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC posts the largest bonus in Dayton, Ohio's top 10 at $10,000.
Also in the top 10: #4 McLeod Express LLC at $1,495/wk, #5 True Transport Inc. at $2,250/wk, #6 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,950/wk, #7 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #8 MNS1 EXPRESS INC at $2,050/wk, #9 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #10 Mountain States L.P. Gas at $2,000/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Dayton, Ohio
The route mix in Dayton, Ohio this month tilts OTR: 26% regional, 67% OTR, 5% local, 2% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 3% of Dayton, Ohio postings; dedicated routes at 26%; 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riders-allowed policies | 90% | 67% | +23 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 32% | 49% | -17 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 96% | 80% | +16 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 74% | 61% | +13 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Among the figures above, riders-allowed policies is where Dayton, Ohio differs most from Ohio — 23 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 and distribution among them). 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 November 2026.