Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Bellingham, Washington (September 2026)
Lanefinder tracks 420 owner-operator carriers hiring in Bellingham, Washington. Rankings below reflect September 2026 data: pay percentiles, FMCSA safety, benefit prevalence, and operational performance. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $2,657 and an average $2,142 sign-on bonus. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC follows at $8,416/week gross. Washington freight flows through the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma — a major West Coast container complex — with I-5 north-south and I-90 east-west carrying forest-products, agricultural exports from the Yakima Valley, and technology freight.
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 Bellingham, Washington this month
The top of the list is WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC at $2,657/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC is number-one in Bellingham, Washington this month on the composite ranking. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 92nd percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Bellingham, Washington.
#2WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $8,416/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC sits in the 93rd percentile for gross weekly revenue among Bellingham, Washington carriers. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC ranks in the 93rd percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#3Rickman Transport, LLC — $9,250/wk
Rickman Transport, LLC sits in the 96th percentile for gross weekly revenue among Bellingham, Washington carriers. On unsafe-driving avoidance, the carrier ranks in the 91st percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
The top sign-on bonus in Bellingham, Washington's top 10 is Rickman Transport, LLC's — $6,000.
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 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk, #9 TP TRUCKING at $8,500/wk, #10 COOL MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT at $8,000/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Bellingham, Washington
Of active CDL postings in Bellingham, Washington this month, 7% are regional and 92% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 1%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Bellingham, Washington postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 92%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 73% and riders-allowed at 71%.
How Bellingham, Washington compares to Washington
Bellingham, Washington's biggest divergence from Washington is on average weekly pay, 7% above the state baseline.
Driving CDL in Washington
Washington freight flows through the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma — a major West Coast container complex — with I-5 north-south and I-90 east-west carrying forest-products freight, agricultural exports from the Yakima Valley (apples, hops, wine grapes), and technology-sector loads. Mountain passes on I-90 (Snoqualmie, Stevens) are aggressive winter operational variables; chain laws apply liberally from November through April. Cost of living is high in the Puget Sound metros. Washington has no state income tax — meaningful comp pull for drivers based here.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Bellingham, Washington
- CDL driver salary in Bellingham, Washington
- Best owner-operator companies in Washington
Where this data comes from
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.