Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Clifton, New Jersey (May 2026)
As of May 2026, 562 carriers in Clifton, New Jersey are posting active jobs for owner-operators. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $5,491 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. Zmile Inc follows at $2,987/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 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 Clifton, New Jersey 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 Clifton, New Jersey ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. Top FMCSA dimension here is hours-of-service compliance, in the 98th percentile. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#2Zmile Inc — $2,987/wk
Zmile Inc's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 98th percentile. Zmile Inc responds to driver applications more reliably than the Clifton, New Jersey median.
#3AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,416/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 Clifton, New Jersey's top 10, only AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC pays guaranteed weekly wages — useful if route variance matters.
Also in the top 10: #4 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #5 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #6 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #7 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #8 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #9 M&D TRANSPORT at $7,000/wk, #10 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Clifton, New Jersey
The route mix in Clifton, New Jersey this month tilts OTR: 9% regional, 87% OTR, 2% local, 2% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Clifton, New Jersey postings; dedicated routes at 29%; take-truck-home at 90%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 72% 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 May 2026.