Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Newark, Ohio (May 2026)
Lanefinder tracks 419 W2 trucking carriers hiring in Newark, Ohio. Rankings below reflect May 2026 data: pay percentiles, FMCSA safety, benefit prevalence, and operational performance. 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 Newark, 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 Newark, Ohio market on combined pay and ranking score this month. KEEP TRUCKING LLC sits in the 95th percentile for weekly pay among Newark, Ohio carriers. KEEP TRUCKING LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on controlled-substances compliance — 88th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Newark, Ohio.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. pays above the 92nd percentile on weekly pay for the Newark, Ohio market. True Transport Inc.'s top FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 99th percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags True Transport Inc. as a responsive employer.
True Transport Inc. doesn't top the ranking but offers higher weekly pay than #1 — $2,250/week.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC sits in the 95th percentile for weekly pay among Newark, Ohio carriers. Top FMCSA dimension here is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 94th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/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 ECM ENERGY SERVICES INC at $1,950/wk, #9 GATEWAY DISTRIBUTION at $1,750/wk, #10 KEN GRAHAM TRUCKING INC at $2,000/wk.
What Newark, Ohio drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Newark, Ohio this month, 25% are regional and 69% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 6%.
Across Newark, Ohio CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 25% dedicated, 79% take-truck-home, 63% pet-friendly, 64% riders-allowed.
How Newark, Ohio compares to Ohio
| Newark, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-truck-home | 96% | 85% | +11 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 82% | 75% | +7 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 73% | 67% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Newark, Ohio's biggest divergence from Ohio is on take-truck-home, 11 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 Newark, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Newark, Ohio
- Best trucking companies in Ohio
How we compile these rankings
Compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance — weighted 30, 25, 25, and 20 percent respectively. Compensation extends beyond headline pay to include sign-on bonus tier and settlement cadence. Benefits scoring differs by hiring type because the perks that matter to a W2 driver and a contractor are not the same. Updated May 2026.