Updated July 2026
Best Trucking Companies in West Des Moines, Iowa (July 2026)
West Des Moines, Iowa, July 2026: 323 active W2 trucking carriers. True Transport Inc. leads with an average weekly pay of $2,250. LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY follows at $1,680/week. Iowa freight is shaped by its agricultural output — corn, soybeans, and ethanol — moving on I-80 east-west and I-35 north-south, with Des Moines serving as the primary distribution crossroads.
What changed in July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
West Des Moines, Iowa's top trucking carriers right now
The top of the list is True Transport Inc. at $2,250/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. is number-one in West Des Moines, Iowa this month on the composite ranking. Weekly pay here lands in the 96th percentile across West Des Moines, Iowa. Top FMCSA dimension here is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 99th percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY — $1,680/wk
LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 91st percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#3Forest 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.
Also in the top 10: #4 CARGORX DRY CAPACITY at $1,900/wk, #5 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,950/wk, #6 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #7 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #8 Great Plains Trucking Inc. at $1,750/wk, #9 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #10 Diaz Stone & Pallet Inc. at $1,750/wk.
What West Des Moines, Iowa drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in West Des Moines, Iowa this month, 16% are regional and 82% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 2%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of West Des Moines, Iowa postings; dedicated routes at 23%; take-truck-home at 82%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 68% and riders-allowed at 69%.
How West Des Moines, Iowa compares to Iowa
| West Des Moines, Iowa | Iowa top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $1,935 | $1,886 | +3% |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 80% | 69% | +11 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 84% | 73% | +11 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
The largest gap is on pet-friendly fleets: West Des Moines, Iowa sits 11 points above the Iowa baseline.
Driving CDL in Iowa
Iowa freight is shaped by the state's agricultural output — corn, soybeans, ethanol, pork — moving on the I-80 east-west and I-35 north-south corridors. Des Moines serves as the primary distribution crossroads. Cedar Rapids and Davenport (Quad Cities) add manufacturing and food-processing freight. Iowa runs a moderate graduated state income tax; living costs are among the lowest in the Midwest. Winter is severe — wind off the prairie plus drifting snow plus black ice on I-80 makes route timing genuinely consequential from December through March.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in West Des Moines, Iowa
- CDL driver salary in West Des Moines, Iowa
- Best trucking companies in Iowa
The methodology behind the rankings
Pay carriers in the same market against each other (30% of the score). Add a five-dimension FMCSA safety percentile from SAFER (25%). Score benefits based on whether the carrier hires W2 drivers or contractors (25%). Layer on employer responsiveness and fleet scale (20%). The weights are fixed and public. Updated July 2026.