Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Dubuque, Iowa (September 2026)
Lanefinder's index counts 602 active owner-operator carriers in Dubuque, Iowa this September 2026. 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. Iowa freight is shaped by its agricultural output — corn, soybeans, and ethanol — moving on I-80 east-west and I-35 north-south, with Des Moines serving as the primary distribution crossroads.
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 Dubuque, Iowa differs from the Iowa baseline
| Dubuque, Iowa | Iowa top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,595 | $5,363 | +23% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 90% | 82% | +8 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 46% | 39% | +7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Dubuque, Iowa differs most from Iowa — 23% above statewide.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Dubuque, Iowa 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 is number-one in Dubuque, Iowa this month on the composite ranking. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 95th percentile across Dubuque, Iowa. Strongest FMCSA dimension is driver fitness — 87th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC ranks in the 92nd percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Dubuque, Iowa median.
#3LOAD MONSTER INC — $5,125/wk
LOAD MONSTER INC ranks in the 96th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Dubuque, Iowa.
Also in the top 10: #4 WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $8,750/wk, #5 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #6 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #7 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #8 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk, #9 AIA TRUCKING INC at $3,450/wk, #10 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $4,975/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Dubuque, Iowa
8% of Dubuque, Iowa's active CDL postings are regional and 92% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (0%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Dubuque, Iowa postings; dedicated routes at 27%; take-truck-home at 93%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 74% and riders-allowed at 70%.
Driving CDL in Iowa
Iowa freight is shaped by the state's agricultural output — corn, soybeans, ethanol, pork — moving on the I-80 east-west and I-35 north-south corridors. Des Moines serves as the primary distribution crossroads. Cedar Rapids and Davenport (Quad Cities) add manufacturing and food-processing freight. Iowa runs a moderate graduated state income tax; living costs are among the lowest in the Midwest. Winter is severe — wind off the prairie plus drifting snow plus black ice on I-80 makes route timing genuinely consequential from December through March.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Dubuque, Iowa
- CDL driver salary in Dubuque, Iowa
- Best owner-operator companies in Iowa
Where this data comes from
Rankings combine four signals: compensation (30%) including pay percentile, sign-on bonuses, guaranteed pay, and settlement frequency; FMCSA safety (25%); benefits (25%) scored differently for W2 vs owner-operator carriers; and operational performance (20%) measuring employer responsiveness and fleet scale. Recomputed monthly from real active job postings. Updated September 2026.