Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Cleveland Heights, Ohio (May 2026)
Cleveland Heights, Ohio, May 2026: 650 active owner-operator carriers. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $5,491 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. B & T EXPRESS INC follows at $6,750/week gross. Ohio sits at the center of the US manufacturing belt, with I-70 / I-71 / I-75 forming a freight grid through Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati and major automotive, steel, and chemical supply chains driving consistent lane demand.
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 Cleveland Heights, Ohio 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 Cleveland Heights, Ohio ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 98th percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC as a responsive employer.
#2B & T EXPRESS INC — $6,750/wk
B & T EXPRESS INC sits in the 85th percentile for gross weekly revenue among Cleveland Heights, Ohio carriers. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 86th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
#3AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,416/wk
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data. Weekly pay is guaranteed regardless of miles run.
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC is the only Cleveland Heights, Ohio top-10 carrier that guarantees weekly pay regardless of miles run.
Also in the top 10: #4 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #5 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #6 Zmile Inc at $2,175/wk, #7 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #8 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #9 POPE TRANSPORT INC at $7,000/wk, #10 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Of active CDL postings in Cleveland Heights, Ohio this month, 11% are regional and 87% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 2%.
Across Cleveland Heights, Ohio CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 92% take-truck-home, 73% pet-friendly, 69% riders-allowed.
Where Cleveland Heights, Ohio differs from the Ohio baseline
| Cleveland Heights, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,212 | $5,665 | +10% |
| Sign-on bonus rate | 22% | 29% | -7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Cleveland Heights, Ohio sits 10% above the Ohio baseline.
Driving CDL in Ohio
Ohio sits at the center of the US manufacturing belt and runs about as much through-freight as any state. I-70, I-71, I-75, and the Ohio Turnpike form a freight grid that's flat, generally well-maintained, and forgiving for newer drivers — Ohio is one of the better states to gain initial OTR experience. The Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati metros each anchor distinct lane profiles (auto, distribution, and pharmaceutical respectively). Winter operational risk is real — lake-effect off Erie, freezing rain in the central part of the state — but less extreme than the Great Plains states. Ohio cost of living is below the national average, which makes the income math work better than the headline pay numbers suggest.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Cleveland Heights, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Cleveland Heights, Ohio
- Best owner-operator companies in Ohio
Where this data comes from
The composite score is 30% compensation, 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits, and 20% operational performance. Pay percentiles are computed against carriers currently hiring in each market; FMCSA percentiles come from SAFER and weight unsafe-driving and hours-of-service violations 2× heavier than the other three dimensions. Updated May 2026.