Updated July 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Mentor, Ohio (July 2026)
383 W2 trucking carriers are hiring in Mentor, Ohio this July 2026. 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.
Where CDL pay is strongest in Mentor, Ohio 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 Mentor, Ohio market on combined pay and ranking score this month. LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY ranks in the 91st percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#2Forest Brook Trucking LLC — $1,600/wk
Forest Brook Trucking LLC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 97th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#3True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. sits in the 96th percentile for weekly pay among Mentor, Ohio carriers. Top FMCSA dimension here is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 99th percentile.
For pure pay maximization, True Transport Inc. beats the #1-ranked carrier weekly at $2,250.
Also in the top 10: #4 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,950/wk, #5 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #6 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #7 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/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.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Mentor, Ohio
The route mix in Mentor, Ohio this month tilts OTR: 25% regional, 70% OTR, 4% local, 2% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Mentor, Ohio postings; dedicated routes at 23%; take-truck-home at 79%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 65% and riders-allowed at 65%.
Where Mentor, Ohio differs from the Ohio baseline
| Mentor, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $1,804 | $1,864 | -3% |
| Take-truck-home | 94% | 85% | +9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 76% | 71% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
Mentor, 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 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 July 2026.