Updated May 2026

Best Owner-Operator Companies in Burlington, Vermont (May 2026)

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480 carriers in Burlington, Vermont are actively recruiting owner-operators as of May 2026. Each is scored on a composite of compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $4,612 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. Zmile Inc follows at $3,750/week gross. Burlington is Vermont's primary freight hub on I-89 near Lake Champlain, with dairy products, specialty food, and maple-industry loads comprising most outbound freight and distribution for the state's northern retail corridor.

What changed in May 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 Burlington, Vermont this month

The top of the list is YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC at $4,612/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.

#1YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC — $4,612/wk

YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC is number-one in Burlington, Vermont this month on the composite ranking. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 98th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Burlington, Vermont.

#2Zmile Inc — $3,750/wk

Zmile Inc ranks in the 98th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.

#3AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,416/wk

AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Burlington, Vermont median. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC guarantees weekly pay — useful when freight slows down.

AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC is the only Burlington, Vermont top-10 carrier that guarantees weekly pay regardless of miles run.

Also in the top 10: #4 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #5 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #6 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #7 Rickman Transport, LLC at $9,250/wk, #8 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #9 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #10 TITAN FREIGHT LINES INC at $8,500/wk.

Lane mix and benefits across Burlington, Vermont

Of active CDL postings in Burlington, Vermont this month, 7% are regional and 92% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 1%.

Across Burlington, Vermont CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 94% take-truck-home, 75% pet-friendly, 72% riders-allowed.

Where Burlington, Vermont differs from the Vermont baseline

Burlington, Vermont's biggest divergence from Vermont is on average weekly pay, 4% above the state baseline.

Driving CDL in Vermont

Vermont freight runs on I-89 and I-91 through a small market with low population density. Dairy products, specialty food manufacturing (Ben & Jerry's, Cabot, others), and building materials comprise most loads. Seasonal agriculture (apples, maple syrup in spring) adds volume. Cost of living is moderate to high; Vermont has a high graduated state income tax. Winter is long and severe; the state's lane network is narrower and more topographically constrained than New England neighbors. Cross-border trade with Quebec adds international-permitting consideration for some lanes.

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 May 2026.

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