Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in West Des Moines, Iowa (May 2026)
West Des Moines, Iowa, May 2026: 336 active W2 trucking carriers. KEEP TRUCKING LLC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. True Transport Inc. follows at $2,250/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 May 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 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 West Des Moines, Iowa ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. The carrier ranks in the 95th percentile for weekly pay in West Des Moines, Iowa. Top FMCSA dimension here is controlled-substances compliance, in the 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 West Des Moines, Iowa carriers. Top FMCSA dimension here is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 99th percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
For pure pay maximization, True Transport Inc. beats the #1-ranked carrier weekly at $2,250.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC pays above the 90th percentile on weekly pay for the West Des Moines, Iowa market. On unsafe-driving avoidance, the carrier ranks in the 94th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #5 HMD TRUCKING INC at $1,800/wk, #6 Great Plains Trucking Inc. at $1,750/wk, #7 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #8 KOTTKE TRUCKING INC at $2,000/wk, #9 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,700/wk, #10 Badger Express LLC at $1,700/wk.
What West Des Moines, Iowa drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in West Des Moines, Iowa this month, 15% are regional and 82% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 3%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of West Des Moines, Iowa postings; dedicated routes at 23%; take-truck-home at 83%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 68% and riders-allowed at 71%.
How West Des Moines, Iowa compares to Iowa
| West Des Moines, Iowa | Iowa top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 44% | 38% | +6 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 86% | 75% | +11 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 80% | 71% | +9 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on riders-allowed policies: 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 May 2026.