Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Independence, Missouri (May 2026)
364 carriers in Independence, Missouri are actively recruiting W2 company drivers as of May 2026. Each is scored on a composite of compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance. KEEP TRUCKING LLC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. True Transport Inc. follows at $2,250/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 May 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-truck-home | 92% | 81% | +11 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 82% | 71% | +11 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 78% | 69% | +9 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 28% | 35% | -7 pt |
| Guaranteed pay | 10% | 4% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Independence, Missouri's biggest divergence from Missouri is on take-truck-home, 11 points above the state baseline.
Where CDL pay is strongest in Independence, Missouri 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 leads the Independence, Missouri market on combined pay and ranking score this month. Weekly pay here lands in the 95th percentile across Independence, Missouri. 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.'s weekly pay ranks in the 97th percentile across Independence, Missouri. Strongest FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance — 99th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC sits in the 95th percentile for weekly pay among Independence, Missouri 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 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,800/wk, #6 HMD TRUCKING INC at $1,800/wk, #7 Great Plains Trucking Inc. at $1,750/wk, #8 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #9 SCHMUHL BROTHERS INC at $2,437/wk, #10 KANSAS CITY INTERMODAL LLC at $2,500/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 2% of Independence, Missouri postings; dedicated routes at 23%; take-truck-home at 79%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 68% and riders-allowed at 68%.
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 May 2026.