Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Mentor, Ohio (May 2026)
394 W2 trucking carriers are hiring in Mentor, Ohio this May 2026. KEEP TRUCKING LLC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. True Transport Inc. follows at $2,250/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 May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where Mentor, Ohio differs from the Ohio baseline
| Mentor, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $1,823 | $1,881 | -3% |
| Sign-on bonus rate | 39% | 44% | -5 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 94% | 85% | +9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 76% | 67% | +9 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 29% | 35% | -6 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 80% | 75% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Mentor, Ohio's biggest divergence from Ohio is on take-truck-home, 9 points above the state baseline.
Where CDL pay is strongest in Mentor, Ohio 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 Mentor, Ohio market on combined pay and ranking score this month. KEEP TRUCKING LLC's weekly pay ranks in the 95th percentile across Mentor, Ohio. Top FMCSA dimension here is controlled-substances compliance, in the 88th percentile. KEEP TRUCKING LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. sits in the 97th percentile for weekly pay among Mentor, Ohio carriers. Top FMCSA dimension here is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 99th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
For pure pay maximization, True Transport Inc. beats the #1-ranked carrier weekly at $2,250.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC's weekly pay ranks in the 95th percentile across Mentor, Ohio. 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 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #6 MCK TRUCKING INC at $1,700/wk, #7 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,700/wk, #8 ECM ENERGY SERVICES INC at $1,950/wk, #9 Badger Express LLC at $1,700/wk, #10 JS HELWIG & SON LLC at $1,850/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Mentor, Ohio
The route mix in Mentor, Ohio this month tilts OTR: 25% regional, 69% OTR, 4% local, 2% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Mentor, Ohio postings; dedicated routes at 23%; take-truck-home at 80%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 64% and riders-allowed at 66%.
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 Mentor, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Mentor, Ohio
- Best trucking companies in Ohio
The methodology behind the rankings
Rankings combine four signals: compensation (30%) including pay percentile, sign-on bonuses, guaranteed pay, and settlement frequency; FMCSA safety (25%); benefits (25%) scored differently for W2 vs owner-operator carriers; and operational performance (20%) measuring employer responsiveness and fleet scale. Recomputed monthly from real active job postings. Updated May 2026.