Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Appleton, Wisconsin (September 2026)
Lanefinder tracks 585 owner-operator carriers hiring in Appleton, Wisconsin. Rankings below reflect September 2026 data: pay percentiles, FMCSA safety, benefit prevalence, and operational performance. 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. Wisconsin freight moves on I-90 / I-94 through Milwaukee and Madison, with dairy and food processing as the dominant outbound commodity and paper and packaging manufacturing in the Fox River Valley generating consistent industrial loads.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Appleton, Wisconsin vs Wisconsin: the numbers that diverge
| Appleton, Wisconsin | Wisconsin top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,881 | $5,277 | +30% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 90% | 80% | +10 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 48% | 42% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Appleton, Wisconsin differs most from Wisconsin — 30% above statewide.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Appleton, Wisconsin 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 leads the Appleton, Wisconsin market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 94th percentile across Appleton, Wisconsin. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC ranks in the 87th percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 92nd percentile. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Appleton, Wisconsin median.
#3LOAD MONSTER INC — $5,125/wk
LOAD MONSTER INC's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 96th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Also in the top 10: #4 WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $8,750/wk, #5 TITANIUM AMERICAN TRUCKING INC at $6,250/wk, #6 SWEET EXPRESS LLC at $8,500/wk, #7 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #8 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #9 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #10 KILO METER LOGISTIC INC at $7,500/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Appleton, Wisconsin
7% of Appleton, Wisconsin's active CDL postings are regional and 92% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Appleton, Wisconsin postings; dedicated routes at 27%; take-truck-home at 93%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 74% and riders-allowed at 71%.
Driving CDL in Wisconsin
Wisconsin freight moves on I-90 / I-94 through Milwaukee and Madison. Dairy and food processing are dominant outbound commodities — Wisconsin's reefer freight is a national-scale segment. Paper and packaging manufacturing in the Fox River Valley generates consistent industrial loads. Great Lakes ports at Green Bay and Superior handle bulk cargo. Cost of living is moderate. Wisconsin has a high graduated state income tax. Winter is severe — lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan affects the eastern third of the state; ice and salt corrosion eat equipment faster than southern states.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Appleton, Wisconsin
- CDL driver salary in Appleton, Wisconsin
- Best owner-operator companies in Wisconsin
How we compile these rankings
Compensation (30%): pay percentile + sign-on bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement frequency. FMCSA safety (25%): weighted percentile across vehicle maintenance, unsafe driving, hours-of-service, driver fitness, and controlled substances. Benefits (25%): hiring-type-aware. Operational (20%): driver-application responsiveness, modulated by fleet scale. Updated September 2026.