Updated July 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Elyria, Ohio (July 2026)
Elyria, Ohio has 396 active W2 trucking carriers as of July 2026. The carriers ranked below are scored on real driver pay, FMCSA safety, benefits, and how they treat applicants. LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY leads with an average weekly pay of $1,680. Forest Brook Trucking LLC follows at $1,600/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 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 Elyria, Ohio this month
The top of the list is LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY at $1,680/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY — $1,680/wk
LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY is number-one in Elyria, Ohio this month on the composite ranking. LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 91st percentile. LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY responds to driver applications more reliably than the Elyria, Ohio median.
#2Forest Brook Trucking LLC — $1,600/wk
Forest Brook Trucking LLC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 97th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Elyria, Ohio.
#3PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $1,950/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION pays above the 84th percentile on weekly pay for the Elyria, Ohio market. PREMIER TRANSPORTATION's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 97th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 True Transport Inc. at $2,250/wk, #5 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #6 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/wk, #7 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #8 MCK TRUCKING INC at $1,700/wk, #9 ECM ENERGY SERVICES INC at $1,950/wk, #10 Diaz Stone & Pallet Inc. at $1,750/wk.
What Elyria, Ohio drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Elyria, Ohio this month, 26% are regional and 68% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 6%.
Across Elyria, Ohio CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 23% dedicated, 77% take-truck-home, 63% pet-friendly, 64% riders-allowed.
How Elyria, Ohio compares to Ohio
| Elyria, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $1,806 | $1,864 | -3% |
| Take-truck-home | 94% | 85% | +9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 76% | 71% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
Among the figures above, take-truck-home is where Elyria, 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 Elyria, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Elyria, Ohio
- Best trucking companies in Ohio
The methodology behind the rankings
Lanefinder's ranking algorithm weights compensation at 30%, FMCSA SAFER safety at 25%, benefits at 25%, and operational performance at 20%. Compensation reflects pay percentile plus sign-on bonus, guaranteed pay, and settlement-frequency adjustments. Benefits scoring is hiring-type-aware. Operational performance comes mostly from how carriers handle real driver applications. Updated July 2026.