Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Apple Valley, Minnesota (September 2026)
There are 570 owner-operator carriers currently posting jobs in Apple Valley, Minnesota. The ranking below reflects active jobs as of September 2026, not historical pay surveys. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $8,500 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC follows at $2,657/week gross. Minnesota freight moves on the I-35 / I-94 Twin Cities metro grid and reaches the Great Lakes at Duluth, with large agricultural export volumes — soybeans, corn, and wheat — and a significant medical-device manufacturing sector.
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 owner-operator pay is strongest in Apple Valley, Minnesota this month
The top of the list is RAY'S 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.
#1RAY'S TRANSPORT INC — $8,500/wk
RAY'S TRANSPORT INC tops the Apple Valley, Minnesota ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 94th percentile across Apple Valley, Minnesota. Strongest FMCSA dimension is driver fitness — 87th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC ranks in the 92nd percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. Lanefinder's application data flags WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC as a responsive employer.
#3LOAD MONSTER INC — $5,125/wk
LOAD MONSTER INC ranks in the 96th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Apple Valley, Minnesota.
Also in the top 10: #4 WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $8,750/wk, #5 TITANIUM AMERICAN TRUCKING INC at $6,250/wk, #6 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #7 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #8 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #9 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk, #10 AIA TRUCKING INC at $3,450/wk.
What Apple Valley, Minnesota drivers actually run
The route mix in Apple Valley, Minnesota this month tilts OTR: 7% regional, 93% OTR, 0% local, 0% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Apple Valley, Minnesota postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 92%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 74% and riders-allowed at 71%.
Where Apple Valley, Minnesota differs from the Minnesota baseline
| Apple Valley, Minnesota | Minnesota top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,577 | $6,153 | +7% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 92% | 86% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Apple Valley, Minnesota differs most from Minnesota — 7% above statewide.
Driving CDL in Minnesota
Minnesota freight moves on the I-35 / I-94 Twin Cities grid and reaches the Great Lakes at Duluth, a significant Lake Superior port. Agricultural exports — soybeans, corn, wheat — drive heavy outbound volume. A significant medical-device manufacturing sector (Medtronic and others) generates high-value freight. Winter is the dominant operational variable: sub-zero stretches affect equipment, idle-time policy, and HOS realism. Minnesota has a high graduated state income tax — among the higher rates in the country. The Twin Cities have unusually-designed truck-restricted bridges; first-time runs should consult routing notes carefully.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Apple Valley, Minnesota
- CDL driver salary in Apple Valley, Minnesota
- Best owner-operator companies in Minnesota
How we compile these 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 September 2026.