Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Hamilton, Ohio (May 2026)
Hamilton, Ohio, May 2026: 427 active W2 trucking carriers. 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 Hamilton, 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 Hamilton, Ohio this month on the composite ranking. KEEP TRUCKING LLC sits in the 95th percentile for weekly pay among Hamilton, Ohio carriers. KEEP TRUCKING LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on controlled-substances compliance — 88th percentile. KEEP TRUCKING LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Hamilton, Ohio median.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. sits in the 97th percentile for weekly pay among Hamilton, Ohio carriers. True Transport Inc.'s top FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 99th percentile. True Transport Inc. responds to driver applications more reliably than the Hamilton, Ohio median.
True Transport Inc. actually pays more weekly than the top-ranked carrier — $2,250/week.
#3Covenant Transport Inc — $1,762/wk
Covenant Transport Inc ranks in the 94th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data.
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 GATEWAY DISTRIBUTION at $1,750/wk, #9 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/wk, #10 ECM ENERGY SERVICES INC at $1,950/wk.
What Hamilton, Ohio drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Hamilton, Ohio this month, 25% are regional and 68% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 7%.
Across Hamilton, Ohio CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 24% dedicated, 77% take-truck-home, 64% pet-friendly, 65% riders-allowed.
Where Hamilton, Ohio differs from the Ohio baseline
| Hamilton, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-truck-home | 94% | 85% | +9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 75% | 67% | +8 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 29% | 35% | -6 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 81% | 75% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on take-truck-home: Hamilton, Ohio sits 9 points above the Ohio 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 Hamilton, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Hamilton, 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.