Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Lakewood, Ohio (September 2026)
Lakewood, Ohio's W2 trucking market includes 401 active carriers as of September 2026. HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,100 and an average $10,000 sign-on bonus. PREMIER TRANSPORTATION follows at $1,950/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 September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
How Lakewood, Ohio compares to Ohio
| Lakewood, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $1,848 | $1,899 | -3% |
| Sign-on bonus rate | 36% | 43% | -7 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 26% | 35% | -9 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 80% | 71% | +9 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 90% | 82% | +8 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 72% | 65% | +7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Among the figures above, dedicated routes is where Lakewood, Ohio differs most from Ohio — 9 points below statewide.
Lakewood, Ohio's top trucking carriers right now
The top of the list is HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC at $2,100/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC — $2,100/wk
HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC tops the Lakewood, Ohio ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC's weekly pay ranks in the 94th percentile across Lakewood, Ohio. HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC ranks in the 99th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data.
HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC offers the highest sign-on bonus among Lakewood, Ohio's top 10 — $10,000.
#2PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $1,950/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION pays above the 84th percentile on weekly pay for the Lakewood, Ohio market. PREMIER TRANSPORTATION's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 98th percentile.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC sits in the 95th percentile for weekly pay among Lakewood, Ohio carriers. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC ranks in the 93rd percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #5 TDR TRANSPORT at $2,200/wk, #6 Big Foot Transport LLC at $2,650/wk, #7 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #8 MCK TRUCKING INC at $1,700/wk, #9 KEYSTONE TRANSPORT SERVICES LLC at $1,965/wk, #10 IMPERIAL EXPRESS LLC at $1,450/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Lakewood, Ohio
Of active CDL postings in Lakewood, Ohio this month, 27% are regional and 66% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 7%.
Across Lakewood, Ohio CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 25% dedicated, 77% take-truck-home, 62% pet-friendly, 63% riders-allowed.
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 Lakewood, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Lakewood, Ohio
- Best trucking companies in Ohio
How we compile these 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 September 2026.