Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (May 2026)
Through May 2026, 602 carriers in Cedar Rapids, Iowa contract owner-operators across the lanes Lanefinder tracks. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $5,491 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC follows at $2,600/week gross. Iowa freight is shaped by its agricultural output — corn, soybeans, and ethanol — moving on I-80 east-west and I-35 north-south, with Des Moines serving as the primary distribution crossroads.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
How Cedar Rapids, Iowa compares to Iowa
| Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Iowa top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,818 | $5,764 | +18% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 90% | 81% | +9 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 47% | 42% | +5 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 86% | 81% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Cedar Rapids, Iowa differs most from Iowa — 18% above statewide.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this month
The top of the list is YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC at $5,491/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC — $5,491/wk
YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC tops the Cedar Rapids, Iowa ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. Strongest FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance — 98th percentile. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#2AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,600/wk
Lanefinder's application data flags AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC as a responsive employer. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC runs a guaranteed-pay structure on the comp package.
Among Cedar Rapids, Iowa's top 10, only AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC pays guaranteed weekly wages — useful if route variance matters.
#3WIDER GROUP INC — $6,250/wk
WIDER GROUP INC is active in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with a current open requisition.
Also in the top 10: #4 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #5 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #6 Zmile Inc at $2,175/wk, #7 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/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 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The route mix in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this month tilts OTR: 7% regional, 91% OTR, 0% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Cedar Rapids, Iowa postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 93%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 75% and riders-allowed at 71%.
Driving CDL in Iowa
Iowa freight is shaped by the state's agricultural output — corn, soybeans, ethanol, pork — moving on the I-80 east-west and I-35 north-south corridors. Des Moines serves as the primary distribution crossroads. Cedar Rapids and Davenport (Quad Cities) add manufacturing and food-processing freight. Iowa runs a moderate graduated state income tax; living costs are among the lowest in the Midwest. Winter is severe — wind off the prairie plus drifting snow plus black ice on I-80 makes route timing genuinely consequential from December through March.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- CDL driver salary in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Best owner-operator companies in Iowa
The methodology behind the rankings
Rankings combine four signals: compensation (30%) including pay percentile, sign-on bonuses, guaranteed pay, and settlement frequency; FMCSA safety (25%); benefits (25%) scored differently for W2 vs owner-operator carriers; and operational performance (20%) measuring employer responsiveness and fleet scale. Recomputed monthly from real active job postings. Updated May 2026.