Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Clifton, New Jersey (September 2026)
As of September 2026, 562 carriers in Clifton, New Jersey are posting active jobs for owner-operators. 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. New Jersey is the primary Northeast freight gateway through Port Newark / Elizabeth — the busiest container port on the East Coast — with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and dense intermodal facilities serving the New York metro market.
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 Clifton, New Jersey 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 tops the Clifton, New Jersey ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 94th percentile across Clifton, New Jersey. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC ranks in the 87th percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 92nd percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Clifton, New Jersey.
#3TITANIUM AMERICAN TRUCKING INC — $6,250/wk
TITANIUM AMERICAN TRUCKING INC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 98th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #5 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #6 LOAD MONSTER INC at $2,450/wk, #7 KILO METER LOGISTIC INC at $7,500/wk, #8 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk, #9 AIA TRUCKING INC at $3,450/wk, #10 M&D TRANSPORT at $7,000/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Clifton, New Jersey
The route mix in Clifton, New Jersey this month tilts OTR: 9% regional, 88% OTR, 2% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Clifton, New Jersey postings; dedicated routes at 30%; take-truck-home at 90%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 71% and riders-allowed at 68%.
How Clifton, New Jersey compares to New Jersey
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Clifton, New Jersey sits 8% above the New Jersey baseline.
Driving CDL in New Jersey
New Jersey is the primary Northeast freight gateway through Port Newark-Elizabeth — the busiest container port on the East Coast — with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and dense intermodal facilities feeding the New York metro market. Drayage out of the port is the largest single CDL segment. Cost of living is high; New Jersey state income tax is high and graduated (peaks above 10%). Bridge tolls and truck-route restrictions on the Garden State Parkway (no trucks allowed) and certain Hudson crossings add planning overhead. NJ Turnpike traffic is consistently in the worst US tier.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Clifton, New Jersey
- CDL driver salary in Clifton, New Jersey
- Best owner-operator companies in New Jersey
The methodology behind the rankings
Carriers are scored against carriers in their own market. The composite is 30% compensation (pay + bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement cadence), 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits (W2 vs owner-op scoring), and 20% operational performance (responsiveness + fleet scale). No paid placement — the weights are the same for every carrier in the index. Updated September 2026.