Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Elyria, Ohio (May 2026)
Through May 2026, 652 carriers in Elyria, Ohio contract owner-operators across the lanes Lanefinder tracks. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $5,491 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. Performance Trucking Inc follows at $8,000/week gross. Ohio sits at the center of the US manufacturing belt, with I-70 / I-71 / I-75 forming a freight grid through Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati and major automotive, steel, and chemical supply chains driving consistent lane demand.
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 Elyria, Ohio differs from the Ohio baseline
| Elyria, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,331 | $5,665 | +12% |
| Sign-on bonus rate | 22% | 29% | -7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Elyria, Ohio sits 12% above the Ohio baseline.
The owner-operator carriers leading Elyria, Ohio 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 leads the Elyria, Ohio market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. 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.
#2Performance Trucking Inc — $8,000/wk
Performance Trucking Inc sits in the 93rd percentile for gross weekly revenue among Elyria, Ohio carriers. Performance Trucking Inc's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 99th percentile.
#3B & T EXPRESS INC — $6,750/wk
B & T EXPRESS INC sits in the 85th percentile for gross weekly revenue among Elyria, Ohio carriers. Strongest FMCSA dimension is driver fitness — 86th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC at $2,416/wk, #5 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #6 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #7 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #8 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #9 POPE TRANSPORT INC at $7,000/wk, #10 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk.
What Elyria, Ohio drivers actually run
11% of Elyria, Ohio's active CDL postings are regional and 87% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (2%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Elyria, Ohio postings; dedicated routes at 27%; take-truck-home at 92%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 73% and riders-allowed at 69%.
Driving CDL in Ohio
Ohio sits at the center of the US manufacturing belt and runs about as much through-freight as any state. I-70, I-71, I-75, and the Ohio Turnpike form a freight grid that's flat, generally well-maintained, and forgiving for newer drivers — Ohio is one of the better states to gain initial OTR experience. The Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati metros each anchor distinct lane profiles (auto, distribution, and pharmaceutical respectively). Winter operational risk is real — lake-effect off Erie, freezing rain in the central part of the state — but less extreme than the Great Plains states. Ohio cost of living is below the national average, which makes the income math work better than the headline pay numbers suggest.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Elyria, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Elyria, Ohio
- Best owner-operator companies in Ohio
How we compile these rankings
Compensation (30%): pay percentile + sign-on bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement frequency. FMCSA safety (25%): weighted percentile across vehicle maintenance, unsafe driving, hours-of-service, driver fitness, and controlled substances. Benefits (25%): hiring-type-aware. Operational (20%): driver-application responsiveness, modulated by fleet scale. Updated May 2026.