Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Apple Valley, California (September 2026)
219 owner-operator carriers are currently posting jobs in Apple Valley, California as of September 2026. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $8,500. Rickman Transport, LLC follows at $9,250/week gross. California freight is dominated by the Port of LA / Long Beach complex, Central Valley agriculture, and the Inland Empire warehouse cluster along I-10 and I-15.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where Apple Valley, California differs from the California baseline
| Apple Valley, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $7,667 | $6,574 | +17% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 84% | 90% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Apple Valley, California's biggest divergence from California is on average weekly pay, 17% above the state baseline.
The owner-operator carriers leading Apple Valley, California this month
The top of the list is WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $8,500/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $8,500/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC tops the Apple Valley, California ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC sits in the 92nd percentile for gross weekly revenue among Apple Valley, California carriers. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 93rd percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Apple Valley, California median.
#2Rickman Transport, LLC — $9,250/wk
Rickman Transport, LLC's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 95th percentile across Apple Valley, California. Strongest FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance — 91st percentile.
Rickman Transport, LLC offers the highest sign-on bonus among Apple Valley, California's top 10 — $6,000.
#3Always Franklin LLC — $8,250/wk
Always Franklin LLC pays above the 85th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Apple Valley, California market. Always Franklin LLC ranks in the 94th percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #5 GNS TRUCKING INC at $9,000/wk, #6 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #7 KILO METER LOGISTIC INC at $7,500/wk, #8 TP TRUCKING at $8,500/wk, #9 ZAIETS TRANSPORTATION LLC at $8,675/wk, #10 ARCHER HOLDING GROUP at $8,000/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Apple Valley, California
Of active CDL postings in Apple Valley, California this month, 12% are regional and 87% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 1%.
Across Apple Valley, California CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 40% dedicated, 86% take-truck-home, 69% pet-friendly, 68% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in California
California is one of the toughest states to drive CDL in the country, and one of the most lucrative for the right setup. CARB clean-truck enforcement is the most aggressive in the US, so newer equipment is effectively required for fleet work — if you're owner-op, plan the truck purchase around it. Drayage out of LA / Long Beach and warehouse-rotation work in the Inland Empire pay near the top of the national scale, but cost of living is brutal. The mountain passes (Cajon, Grapevine, Donner) add real winter complexity that most other Southwest lanes don't. Drivers with serious mountain experience earn it back.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Apple Valley, California
- CDL driver salary in Apple Valley, California
- Best owner-operator companies in California
Where this data comes from
Lanefinder's ranking algorithm weights compensation at 30%, FMCSA SAFER safety at 25%, benefits at 25%, and operational performance at 20%. Compensation reflects pay percentile plus sign-on bonus, guaranteed pay, and settlement-frequency adjustments. Benefits scoring is hiring-type-aware. Operational performance comes mostly from how carriers handle real driver applications. Updated September 2026.