Updated July 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in DeKalb, Illinois (July 2026)
Through July 2026, 670 carriers in DeKalb, Illinois contract owner-operators across the lanes Lanefinder tracks. ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $5,500. Performance Trucking Inc follows at $8,000/week gross. Illinois anchors the US rail and truck network through Chicago, the largest intermodal hub in North America, with I-80 / I-90 / I-55 feeding a dense concentration of manufacturing, warehousing, and cold-chain freight.
What changed in July 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 DeKalb, Illinois this month
The top of the list is ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC at $5,500/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC — $5,500/wk
ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC leads the DeKalb, Illinois market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. Strongest FMCSA dimension is driver fitness — 96th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2Performance Trucking Inc — $8,000/wk
Performance Trucking Inc's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 93rd percentile across DeKalb, Illinois.
#3INLAND EMPIRE LLC — $7,875/wk
INLAND EMPIRE LLC pays above the 85th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the DeKalb, Illinois market.
Also in the top 10: #4 WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC at $2,437/wk, #5 TITANIUM AMERICAN TRUCKING INC at $6,250/wk, #6 SWEET EXPRESS LLC at $8,500/wk, #7 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #8 OVERLOG INC at $3,145/wk, #9 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #10 POPE TRANSPORT INC at $7,000/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in DeKalb, Illinois
The route mix in DeKalb, Illinois this month tilts OTR: 10% regional, 88% OTR, 2% local, 0% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across DeKalb, Illinois CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 28% dedicated, 92% take-truck-home, 73% pet-friendly, 69% riders-allowed.
Where DeKalb, Illinois differs from the Illinois baseline
| DeKalb, Illinois | Illinois top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 37% | 32% | +5 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 86% | 78% | +8 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 84% | 78% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
Among the figures above, riders-allowed policies is where DeKalb, Illinois differs most from Illinois — 8 points above statewide.
Driving CDL in Illinois
Illinois is one of the most strategically located CDL states — Chicago is the largest US intermodal rail hub, so a huge percentage of national freight passes through. The metro lanes pay well but congestion on I-80, I-90, and I-294 is consistent enough to be a real income variable. Outside the Chicago metro, downstate Illinois looks much more like Iowa or Indiana — agricultural freight, less density, easier driving. State income tax is moderate. The winter operational profile is severe: lake-effect snow, road salt, and the freezing-thawing cycle eat equipment faster than most southern states.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in DeKalb, Illinois
- CDL driver salary in DeKalb, Illinois
- Best owner-operator companies in Illinois
Where this data comes from
Compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance — weighted 30, 25, 25, and 20 percent respectively. Compensation extends beyond headline pay to include sign-on bonus tier and settlement cadence. Benefits scoring differs by hiring type because the perks that matter to a W2 driver and a contractor are not the same. Updated July 2026.