When a shipper searches for a trucking company in Columbus, the freight itself could be almost anything. It might be a dry van load of retail goods moving out of one of the metro's massive distribution centers, a reefer run bound for a grocery chain, or flatbed automotive parts feeding a plant tied to Honda's manufacturing footprint in the region. I built this list with that range in mind: instead of ranking carriers within a single equipment category, I pulled the top-rated trucking companies serving Columbus across every trailer type, based on verified broker and shipper reviews on CarrierSource.
Columbus sits directly at the intersection of I-70 and I-71, putting the metro within roughly 600 miles of about 60 percent of the U.S. population and making it one of the busiest retail distribution markets in the country, with major companies running significant distribution operations here. Add in Rickenbacker's inland port, with its dedicated cargo airport and intermodal rail access, and it's clear why Columbus freight doesn't sort neatly into one trailer type. The carriers on this list reflect that range, from pure dry van specialists to mixed fleets running reefer, flatbed, and tanker equipment.
I ranked these carriers by star rating and review volume, with a minimum of five verified reviews and active operating authority required to make the cut. Below each entry you'll find a real quote from a shipper or broker who's actually used them, along with fleet size and headquarters location — or if you'd prefer to browse the full list and filter by your own criteria, you can do that directly on CarrierSource.
1. Sunway Transport LLC: Perfect Marks Across Ten Reviews
"I cannot recommend this Sunway Transport enough! Their tracking feature was incredibly user-friendly, and I received notifications that kept me in the loop throughout. On top of that, our shipment arrived exactly when promised, which made for a flawless logistics experience." — Verified Broker, OH
| ⭐ Star Rating |
5.00/5 (10 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
10 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Gahanna, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
3436467 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: Sunway is a small, 10-truck operation just outside Columbus running a perfect 5.0 average across all 10 of its reviews, all of which specifically praise its tracking and communication rather than just on-time delivery. That's a hard bar to clear consistently, and it's holding up across a real sample size.
Best for: Shippers who want boutique-level attention and communication on regional dry van loads.
2. A Star Transportation Company: Multi-Equipment Fleet with a Flawless Record
"Using A Star was a fantastic experience! The detailed tracking updates allowed me to plan accordingly, and it felt great to know I could monitor the shipment at any moment. With everything delivered on time, they have definitely earned my trust for future logistics needs." — Verified Broker, OH
| ⭐ Star Rating |
5.00/5 (10 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
31 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Columbus, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
3162107 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: A Star runs dry van, flatbed, power only, and tanker equipment out of a 31-truck Columbus fleet, which is an unusually broad equipment mix for a fleet this size, and it's holding a perfect 5.0 average across 10 reviews while doing it.
Best for: Shippers who want one Columbus carrier that can cover several equipment types without shopping around.
3. Hemphill & Son: Years-Long Local Reliability
"This team has been running with us for years now and they do a great job with every load that they are booked on. The drivers make sure to stay on tracking and provide good updates when they are requested. Always a great experience!" — Verified Broker, OH
| ⭐ Star Rating |
5.00/5 (7 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
68 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Columbus, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
293587 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: Hemphill & Son's reviews span from 2022 through 2024, with repeat brokers naming individual dispatchers by name across multiple bookings. That pattern points to genuine ongoing account relationships rather than one-off spot loads.
Best for: Shippers building a long-term regional dry van or reefer relationship instead of booking one-off freight.
4. Sos Trucking Services LLC: Near-Perfect Consistency on Dry Van
"SOS Trucking ran a dry van shipment for us out of Ohio going to North Dakota. Carrier was in communication throughout the trip and accepted electronic tracking. Reliable driver. Reliable equipment. Reliable carrier!" — Verified Broker, FL
| ⭐ Star Rating |
4.98/5 (10 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
39 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Columbus, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
2576917 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: SOS's reviews specifically call out longer-haul lanes like Ohio to North Dakota alongside consistent electronic tracking adoption, and the feedback stays strong into 2026, the most recent review on record.
Best for: Shippers running long-haul dry van out of central Ohio who prioritize verifiable, real-time tracking.
"We would highly recommend. On time, dispatch is on point, and drivers are easy to communicate with. Never any issues for long or short mile runs. We look forward to working with them in the future!" — Verified Broker, OR
| ⭐ Star Rating |
4.97/5 (10 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
141 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Grove City, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
2258095 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: Excel is one of the largest pure dry van operations on this list at 141 trucks, and it's still pulling a 4.97 average, with reviewers praising both long-haul and short-mile runs equally. Fleets this size don't always hold service quality that tightly.
Best for: Shippers who need real fleet depth for recurring dry van volume without a drop in consistency.
"Ohio Transit Company is one of our go-to carriers for PA-OH/OH-PA loads. Thankfully, I was able to work with them earlier this year and it was great. Abdul was excellent. Smooth load." — Verified Broker, OH
| ⭐ Star Rating |
4.92/5 (12 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
79 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Columbus, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
2409347 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: OTC, short for Ohio Transit Company, runs dry van, flatbed, and reefer equipment, and multiple reviewers specifically call out its Pennsylvania-Ohio lane expertise along with a strong back-office track-and-trace team that handles issues like lumper fees without the broker having to chase it down.
Best for: Shippers moving mixed equipment freight on Ohio-Pennsylvania corridors.
7. Tesla Logistics Inc: Flawless Streak on Northeast Lanes
"This team has run more than a few loads for us and they have all been flawless. Their drivers stay on tracking and answer their phones when track and trace calls them. Dispatch and drivers are friendly and they will get your load delivered on time." — Verified Broker, OH
| ⭐ Star Rating |
4.89/5 (6 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
43 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Columbus, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
2858678 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: A reviewer specifically recommends Tesla Logistics for Northeast-bound freight, and the rest of the feedback describes a repeat-booking relationship where the carrier hasn't missed on communication or timing.
Best for: Shippers running dry van freight from Columbus toward the Northeast corridor.
8. Torey Transport LLC: Versatile Small Fleet, Strong Communication
"It was a pleasure to work with Ali and his MC on this load. The communication from the dispatcher was solid. We received the necessary updates. The driver provided excellent tracking from start to finish. Looking forward to working with them again." — Verified Broker, OH
| ⭐ Star Rating |
4.81/5 (11 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
10 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Columbus, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
3117283 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: Torey runs auto carrier, dry van, and tanker equipment out of a compact 10-truck fleet, and reviewers consistently name individual dispatchers by name while describing strong performance on Indiana-Ohio lanes.
Best for: Shippers who need a versatile small fleet for Ohio-Indiana regional freight.
"Smooth reefer load with FST Express. The driver was on time and a great help. The dispatch team was helpful with the necessary updates as well." — Verified Broker, OH
| ⭐ Star Rating |
4.75/5 (8 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
294 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Dublin, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
506489 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: FST runs a 294-truck reefer-focused fleet out of the northwest suburbs, and its reviews consistently mention temperature-controlled handling and reliable tracking on both short regional runs and longer Ohio-Kentucky lanes.
Best for: Shippers who need dedicated refrigerated capacity at real scale out of central Ohio.
Additional Top-Rated Carriers with Terminals in Columbus
These carriers aren't headquartered in Columbus, but they operate terminal locations within 50 miles, giving them a strong local presence for pickups and deliveries in the area. They meet the same review and safety thresholds as the ranked carriers above.
| Carrier |
⭐ Rating (out of 5) |
🚛 Fleet Size |
Overview |
| American Marine Express Inc |
4.96 (6 reviews) |
225 |
A Cleveland-based intermodal drayage specialist running container and dry van equipment out of major hub locations across the state. |
| ABF Freight System Inc |
4.88 (10 reviews) |
4604 |
One of the nation's largest LTL carriers, running over a century of experience and 240 service centers across North America. |
| ITF Group LLC |
4.86 (30 reviews) |
439 |
A St. Louis-based multi-equipment carrier running nearly every trailer type, from auto carrier to step deck, with the deepest review count of any carrier on this list. |
| Rush Expediting Inc |
4.86 (5 reviews) |
135 |
A Dayton-based courier-turned-freight carrier with an existing Columbus service center and over 40 years of same-day Midwest delivery experience. |
| Dht Logistics |
4.82 (8 reviews) |
148 |
A Michigan-based multi-division carrier with an Ohio location in Bellefontaine, running everything from tankers to flatbeds under one roof. |
How I Picked These Carriers
Because this list covers every equipment type instead of one, I didn't filter by trailer category the way I would for a dry van or reefer-specific ranking. Instead, I pulled every carrier with an active operating authority, a physical presence within 50 miles of Columbus, and at least five verified reviews on CarrierSource, then ranked by star rating first and review volume second.
That approach surfaced a heavy concentration of Columbus-based dry van fleets, which tracks with how much retail distribution freight moves through the metro, but it also picked up reefer, flatbed, tanker, and auto carrier operators wherever the review data supported it. Fleet size here ranges from a single truck to nearly 300, because scale isn't the qualifying factor. Consistency of feedback is.
I also pulled a separate group of carriers that aren't headquartered in the metro but run a terminal here, since those carriers can still offer real local pickup and delivery capability even though their corporate address is somewhere else. Every carrier in both sections met the same minimum review and authority thresholds before being considered.
FAQ
What should I look for in a trucking company in Columbus?
The most reliable signal is a track record of verified reviews from shippers and brokers who've actually used the carrier, not marketing claims. Check how many trucks a carrier runs relative to your freight volume, confirm they hold active operating authority, and make sure their equipment lineup, dry van, reefer, flatbed, or something more specialized, actually matches what you're shipping. A large fleet isn't automatically the safer choice over a smaller one with a cleaner, more consistent review history.
What types of freight move through Columbus by truck?
Columbus sits at the crossroads of I-70 and I-71, putting it within about 600 miles of roughly 60 percent of the U.S. population, which is a big reason the metro has become one of the country's busiest retail distribution hubs. Add in Rickenbacker's inland port, with its dedicated cargo airport and intermodal rail connections, plus a strong automotive manufacturing presence anchored by Honda, and the freight moving through Columbus spans everything from dry van retail goods to reefer freight to flatbed automotive components.
How does the I-70/I-71 interchange affect Columbus freight capacity?
Because Columbus sits directly at the I-70/I-71 interchange, freight moving through the metro can head east toward Pittsburgh and the East Coast, west toward Indianapolis, north toward Cleveland, or south toward Cincinnati without much added mileage. That central position tends to keep capacity relatively deep compared to less-connected markets, though rates and available trucks can still tighten during peak retail season given how much distribution volume runs through the area.
What questions should I ask before booking with a new carrier?
Before tendering a load, ask for the carrier's DOT and MC number so you can independently verify active operating authority, confirm what trailer types and how many trucks they have available for your lane, and ask how they handle tracking and communication during transit. It's also reasonable to request references from recent shippers or brokers, especially for a high-value or time-sensitive load.
How do I vet a trucking company I haven't worked with before?
Start by checking the carrier's FMCSA registration and safety history through the SAFER system, then look at independent reviews from shippers and brokers who've actually used them rather than testimonials on the carrier's own site. Confirm their equipment and fleet size actually match what your freight requires, and consider starting with a smaller load before committing to something high-value. A short call with dispatch often reveals a lot about how organized an operation really is.
Can one carrier handle multiple trailer types for the same shipment?
Yes, and several carriers in the Columbus market run mixed fleets that combine dry van with flatbed, reefer, or tanker equipment, which lets a shipper consolidate freight with fewer carrier relationships. It's still worth confirming that a carrier's secondary equipment type is a genuine, established part of their operation rather than an occasional add-on, since driver experience and equipment condition can vary between trailer types within the same company.
Find the Right Carrier for Your Lane
These 9 carriers represent the top of the field across every equipment type serving Columbus, but they're far from the only good options in the metro. If your freight needs something more specific, whether that's a particular trailer type, a certain fleet size, or a carrier with terminal access in a specific part of Central Ohio, you can filter the full list yourself.
