Updated July 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Lawrence, Kansas (July 2026)
Lawrence, Kansas's W2 trucking market includes 332 active carriers as of July 2026. LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY leads with an average weekly pay of $1,680. True Transport Inc. follows at $2,250/week. Kansas freight moves on the I-70 east-west transcontinental corridor and I-35 north-south, with agricultural commodities — wheat, beef, and grain — dominating loads and the Kansas City metro serving as a regional hub.
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 Lawrence, Kansas 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 leads the Lawrence, Kansas market on combined pay and ranking score this month. 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 Lawrence, Kansas median.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. sits in the 96th percentile for weekly pay among Lawrence, Kansas carriers. True Transport Inc.'s top FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 99th percentile.
#3Forest Brook Trucking LLC — $1,600/wk
Forest Brook Trucking LLC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 97th percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags Forest Brook Trucking LLC as a responsive employer.
Also in the top 10: #4 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,900/wk, #5 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #6 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #7 Great Plains Trucking Inc. at $1,750/wk, #8 SCHMUHL BROTHERS INC at $2,437/wk, #9 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #10 KANSAS CITY INTERMODAL LLC at $2,500/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Lawrence, Kansas
Of active CDL postings in Lawrence, Kansas this month, 15% are regional and 81% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 4%.
Across Lawrence, Kansas CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 23% dedicated, 80% take-truck-home, 66% pet-friendly, 66% riders-allowed.
Lawrence, Kansas vs Kansas: the numbers that diverge
| Lawrence, Kansas | Kansas top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 38% | 32% | +6 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 80% | 74% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
Among the figures above, sign-on bonus availability is where Lawrence, Kansas differs most from Kansas — 6 points above statewide.
Driving CDL in Kansas
Kansas freight moves on the I-70 east-west transcontinental corridor and I-35 north-south, with the Kansas City metro (split with MO) as the regional hub. Wheat, beef, and grain dominate outbound loads, especially in summer harvest season. Wichita aerospace and manufacturing adds steady industrial freight. Kansas has a moderate graduated state income tax; cost of living runs near the bottom of the US distribution. Western Kansas is genuinely remote — long stretches between fuel stops on I-70 west of Salina — and tornado season (April-June) shapes route planning each spring.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Lawrence, Kansas
- CDL driver salary in Lawrence, Kansas
- Best trucking companies in Kansas
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 July 2026.