Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Davis, California (May 2026)
Lanefinder is tracking 204 owner-operator carriers in Davis, California (May 2026). Zmile Inc leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $3,233. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC follows at $2,525/week gross. California freight is dominated by the Port of LA / Long Beach complex, Central Valley agriculture, and the Inland Empire warehouse cluster along I-10 and I-15.
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 Davis, California differs from the California baseline
| Davis, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $7,759 | $6,849 | +13% |
| Sign-on bonus rate | 22% | 27% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Davis, California's biggest divergence from California is on average weekly pay, 13% above the state baseline.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Davis, California this month
The top of the list is Zmile Inc at $3,233/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1Zmile Inc — $3,233/wk
Zmile Inc is number-one in Davis, California this month on the composite ranking. Zmile Inc's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 98th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Davis, California.
#2AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,525/wk
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Davis, California median. The comp package includes a guaranteed-pay structure — useful when freight slows.
Among Davis, California's top 10, only AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC pays guaranteed weekly wages — useful if route variance matters.
#3TAZ TRUCKING INC — $10,999/wk
TAZ TRUCKING INC pays above the 93rd percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Davis, California market. Top FMCSA dimension here is driver fitness, in the 83rd percentile.
For pure pay maximization, TAZ TRUCKING INC beats the #1-ranked carrier weekly at $10,999.
Also in the top 10: #4 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #5 IKKO LOGISTICS LLC at $8,250/wk, #6 Rickman Transport, LLC at $9,250/wk, #7 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #8 GNS TRUCKING INC at $9,000/wk, #9 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #10 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk.
What Davis, California drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Davis, California this month, 11% are regional and 85% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 4%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Davis, California postings; dedicated routes at 36%; take-truck-home at 87%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 73% and riders-allowed at 70%.
Driving CDL in California
California is one of the toughest states to drive CDL in the country, and one of the most lucrative for the right setup. CARB clean-truck enforcement is the most aggressive in the US, so newer equipment is effectively required for fleet work — if you're owner-op, plan the truck purchase around it. Drayage out of LA / Long Beach and warehouse-rotation work in the Inland Empire pay near the top of the national scale, but cost of living is brutal. The mountain passes (Cajon, Grapevine, Donner) add real winter complexity that most other Southwest lanes don't. Drivers with serious mountain experience earn it back.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Davis, California
- CDL driver salary in Davis, California
- Best owner-operator companies in California
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.