Updated July 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Ohio (July 2026)
677 W2 trucking carriers are hiring in 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 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 is number-one in Ohio this month on the composite ranking. 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 FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 97th percentile. Forest Brook Trucking LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#3DIVINE ENTERPRISES — $1,375/wk
DIVINE ENTERPRISES's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 96th percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags DIVINE ENTERPRISES as a responsive employer.
Also in the top 10: #4 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,950/wk, #5 True Transport Inc. at $2,250/wk, #6 South East Carriers INC at $1,600/wk, #7 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #8 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #9 Norris Milk Hauling LTD at $1,750/wk, #10 Great Plains Trucking Inc. at $1,750/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Ohio
Of active CDL postings in Ohio this month, 29% are regional and 52% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 19%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Ohio postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 64%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 53% and riders-allowed at 52%.
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 Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Ohio
- Best trucking companies in the United States
How we compile these 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.