Updated July 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Lima, Ohio (July 2026)
There are 402 W2 trucking carriers currently posting jobs in Lima, Ohio. The ranking below reflects active jobs as of July 2026, not historical pay surveys. LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY leads with an average weekly pay of $1,680. Forest Brook Trucking LLC follows at $1,600/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 July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Lima, Ohio's top trucking carriers right now
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 tops the Lima, Ohio ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. Strongest FMCSA dimension is driver fitness — 91st percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2Forest Brook Trucking LLC — $1,600/wk
Forest Brook Trucking LLC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 97th percentile. Forest Brook Trucking LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#3PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $1,950/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION sits in the 88th percentile for weekly pay among Lima, Ohio carriers. PREMIER TRANSPORTATION ranks in the 97th percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 True Transport Inc. at $2,250/wk, #5 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #6 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/wk, #7 Norris Milk Hauling LTD at $1,750/wk, #8 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #9 MCK TRUCKING INC at $1,700/wk, #10 ECM ENERGY SERVICES INC at $1,950/wk.
What Lima, Ohio drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Lima, Ohio this month, 26% are regional and 71% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 3%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 3% of Lima, Ohio postings; dedicated routes at 23%; take-truck-home at 81%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 67% and riders-allowed at 66%.
Where Lima, Ohio differs from the Ohio baseline
| Lima, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 43% | 38% | +5 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 94% | 85% | +9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 76% | 71% | +5 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 78% | 73% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
Lima, Ohio's biggest divergence from Ohio is on take-truck-home, 9 points above the state 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 Lima, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Lima, Ohio
- Best trucking companies in Ohio
Where this data comes from
Pay carriers in the same market against each other (30% of the score). Add a five-dimension FMCSA safety percentile from SAFER (25%). Score benefits based on whether the carrier hires W2 drivers or contractors (25%). Layer on employer responsiveness and fleet scale (20%). The weights are fixed and public. Updated July 2026.