Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Middletown, Ohio (May 2026)
For W2 company drivers in Middletown, Ohio, Lanefinder tracks 427 carriers as of 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 CDL pay is strongest in Middletown, 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 tops the Middletown, Ohio ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. Weekly pay here lands in the 95th percentile across Middletown, Ohio. Strongest FMCSA dimension is controlled-substances compliance — 88th percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. sits in the 97th percentile for weekly pay among Middletown, Ohio carriers. Top FMCSA dimension here is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 99th percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
Despite ranking below #1, True Transport Inc. outpays the leader on weekly average — $2,250/week.
#3Covenant Transport Inc — $1,762/wk
Covenant Transport Inc ranks in the 94th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #5 MCK TRUCKING INC at $1,700/wk, #6 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #7 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,700/wk, #8 GATEWAY DISTRIBUTION at $1,750/wk, #9 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/wk, #10 ECM ENERGY SERVICES INC at $1,950/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Middletown, Ohio
The route mix in Middletown, Ohio this month tilts OTR: 25% regional, 67% OTR, 6% local, 2% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Middletown, Ohio postings; dedicated routes at 24%; take-truck-home at 77%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 64% and riders-allowed at 64%.
Where Middletown, Ohio differs from the Ohio baseline
| Middletown, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-truck-home | 94% | 85% | +9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 75% | 67% | +8 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 29% | 35% | -6 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 81% | 75% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on take-truck-home: Middletown, Ohio sits 9 points above the Ohio 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 Middletown, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Middletown, Ohio
- Best trucking companies in Ohio
The methodology behind the rankings
Compensation (30%): pay percentile + sign-on bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement frequency. FMCSA safety (25%): weighted percentile across vehicle maintenance, unsafe driving, hours-of-service, driver fitness, and controlled substances. Benefits (25%): hiring-type-aware. Operational (20%): driver-application responsiveness, modulated by fleet scale. Updated May 2026.