Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Hawthorne, California (September 2026)
226 owner-operator carriers are hiring in Hawthorne, California this September 2026. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $8,416. Rickman Transport, LLC follows at $9,250/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 September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
How Hawthorne, California compares to California
| Hawthorne, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $7,784 | $6,574 | +18% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 82% | 90% | -8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Hawthorne, California's biggest divergence from California is on average weekly pay, 18% above the state baseline.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Hawthorne, California this month
The top of the list is WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $8,416/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $8,416/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC is number-one in Hawthorne, California this month on the composite ranking. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC pays above the 86th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Hawthorne, California market. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 93rd percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Hawthorne, California.
#2Rickman Transport, LLC — $9,250/wk
Rickman Transport, LLC sits in the 96th percentile for gross weekly revenue among Hawthorne, California carriers. Rickman Transport, LLC ranks in the 91st percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data.
Rickman Transport, LLC leads Hawthorne, California's top 10 on sign-on bonus, advertising $6,000 for new drivers.
#3Always Franklin LLC — $8,250/wk
Always Franklin LLC's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 91st percentile across Hawthorne, California. Top FMCSA dimension here is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 94th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #5 GNS TRUCKING INC at $9,000/wk, #6 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #7 KILO METER LOGISTIC INC at $7,500/wk, #8 TP TRUCKING at $8,500/wk, #9 ARCHER HOLDING GROUP at $8,000/wk, #10 ZAIETS TRANSPORTATION LLC at $8,675/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Hawthorne, California
12% of Hawthorne, California's active CDL postings are regional and 83% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (5%).
Across Hawthorne, California CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 40% dedicated, 84% take-truck-home, 66% pet-friendly, 65% riders-allowed.
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 Hawthorne, California
- CDL driver salary in Hawthorne, California
- Best owner-operator companies in California
The methodology behind the rankings
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 September 2026.