Updated July 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Independence, Missouri (July 2026)
353 carriers in Independence, Missouri are actively recruiting W2 company drivers as of July 2026. Each is scored on a composite of compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance. True Transport Inc. leads with an average weekly pay of $2,250. LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY follows at $1,680/week. Missouri freight is shaped by the St. Louis and Kansas City hubs anchoring I-70 / I-44 / I-55 corridors, with the Mississippi and Missouri rivers providing barge access for agricultural and bulk commodity shipments.
What changed in July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
How Independence, Missouri compares to Missouri
| Independence, Missouri | Missouri top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riders-allowed policies | 80% | 68% | +12 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 92% | 81% | +11 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 78% | 68% | +10 pt |
| Guaranteed pay | 10% | 4% | +6 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 26% | 32% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
Independence, Missouri's biggest divergence from Missouri is on riders-allowed policies, 12 points above the state baseline.
Where CDL pay is strongest in Independence, Missouri this month
The top of the list is True Transport Inc. at $2,250/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. leads the Independence, Missouri market on combined pay and ranking score this month. True Transport Inc.'s weekly pay ranks in the 96th percentile across Independence, Missouri. Strongest FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance — 99th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY — $1,680/wk
LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY ranks in the 91st percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#3Forest Brook Trucking LLC — $1,600/wk
Forest Brook Trucking LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 97th percentile. Forest Brook Trucking LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
Also in the top 10: #4 CARGORX DRY CAPACITY at $1,900/wk, #5 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,925/wk, #6 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #7 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #8 Great Plains Trucking Inc. at $1,750/wk, #9 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #10 SCHMUHL BROTHERS INC at $2,437/wk.
What Independence, Missouri drivers actually run
17% of Independence, Missouri's active CDL postings are regional and 78% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (5%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 3% of Independence, Missouri postings; dedicated routes at 23%; take-truck-home at 78%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 67% and riders-allowed at 66%.
Driving CDL in Missouri
Missouri freight is shaped by the St. Louis and Kansas City hubs anchoring the I-70 / I-44 / I-55 corridors. The Mississippi and Missouri rivers provide barge access for agricultural and bulk commodity transfers. St. Louis is one of the older US freight crossroads — the rail-truck interchange there is dense and complicated. Living costs sit comfortably below the national average; Missouri has a low-to-moderate graduated state income tax. Tornado season (March-June) shapes spring dispatch in central and southern MO.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Independence, Missouri
- CDL driver salary in Independence, Missouri
- Best trucking companies in Missouri
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 July 2026.