Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Elizabeth, New Jersey (May 2026)
Elizabeth, New Jersey, May 2026: 560 active owner-operator carriers. 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.
Elizabeth, New Jersey's top owner-operator carriers right now
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 Elizabeth, New Jersey ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 98th percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC as a responsive employer.
#2Zmile Inc — $2,987/wk
Zmile Inc ranks in the 98th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. Zmile Inc tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#3AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,416/wk
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Elizabeth, New Jersey median. Weekly pay is guaranteed regardless of miles run.
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC is the only Elizabeth, New Jersey top-10 carrier that guarantees weekly pay regardless of miles run.
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 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk, #10 TITAN FREIGHT LINES INC at $8,500/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Elizabeth, New Jersey
Of active CDL postings in Elizabeth, New Jersey this month, 9% are regional and 87% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 4%.
Across Elizabeth, New Jersey CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 30% dedicated, 90% take-truck-home, 71% pet-friendly, 68% riders-allowed.
Elizabeth, New Jersey vs New Jersey: the numbers that diverge
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Elizabeth, New Jersey differs most from New Jersey — 8% above statewide.
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 Elizabeth, New Jersey
- CDL driver salary in Elizabeth, New Jersey
- Best owner-operator companies in New Jersey
How we compile these rankings
The composite score is 30% compensation, 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits, and 20% operational performance. Pay percentiles are computed against carriers currently hiring in each market; FMCSA percentiles come from SAFER and weight unsafe-driving and hours-of-service violations 2× heavier than the other three dimensions. Updated May 2026.