Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Lorain, Ohio (September 2026)
There are 397 W2 trucking carriers currently posting jobs in Lorain, Ohio. The ranking below reflects active jobs as of September 2026, not historical pay surveys. 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 Lorain, Ohio compares to Ohio
| Lorain, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 38% | 43% | -5 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 82% | 71% | +11 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 26% | 35% | -9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 74% | 65% | +9 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 90% | 82% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Lorain, Ohio's biggest divergence from Ohio is on riders-allowed policies, 11 points above the state baseline.
Where CDL pay is strongest in Lorain, Ohio this month
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 is number-one in Lorain, Ohio this month on the composite ranking. HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC sits in the 94th percentile for weekly pay among Lorain, Ohio carriers. HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 99th percentile.
For sign-on cash, HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC posts the largest bonus in Lorain, Ohio's top 10 at $10,000.
#2PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $1,950/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION sits in the 89th percentile for weekly pay among Lorain, Ohio carriers. Top FMCSA dimension here is driver fitness, in the 98th percentile.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC's weekly pay ranks in the 95th percentile across Lorain, Ohio. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC's top FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 93rd percentile.
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 ECM ENERGY SERVICES INC at $1,950/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Lorain, Ohio
Of active CDL postings in Lorain, Ohio this month, 27% are regional and 67% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 6%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Lorain, Ohio postings; dedicated routes at 24%; take-truck-home at 78%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 63% and riders-allowed at 64%.
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 Lorain, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Lorain, Ohio
- Best trucking companies in Ohio
How we compile these rankings
Composite-score formula: compensation × 0.30, FMCSA safety × 0.25, benefits × 0.25, operational performance × 0.20. Compensation is anchored on pay percentile and lifted by sign-on bonus tier and guaranteed-pay availability. Operational performance is built mostly from driver-application response data in Lanefinder's platform, with fleet-scale percentile contributing a smaller portion. Updated September 2026.