Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Lawrence, Kansas (May 2026)
There are 592 owner-operator carriers currently posting jobs in Lawrence, Kansas. The ranking below reflects active jobs as of May 2026, not historical pay surveys. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $5,491 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC follows at $2,525/week gross. Kansas freight moves on the I-70 east-west transcontinental corridor and I-35 north-south, with agricultural commodities — wheat, beef, and grain — dominating loads and the Kansas City metro serving as a regional hub.
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 owner-operator pay is strongest in Lawrence, Kansas 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 Lawrence, Kansas market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. Top FMCSA dimension here is hours-of-service compliance, in the 98th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,525/wk
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Lawrence, Kansas median. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC offers a guaranteed weekly minimum.
For guaranteed weekly pay, AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC is the only top-10 Lawrence, Kansas carrier offering it.
#3WIDER GROUP INC — $6,250/wk
WIDER GROUP INC is active in Lawrence, Kansas with a current open requisition.
Also in the top 10: #4 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #5 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #6 Zmile Inc at $2,175/wk, #7 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #8 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #9 Red Diamond Freight, LLC at $7,045/wk, #10 TITAN FREIGHT LINES INC at $8,500/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Lawrence, Kansas
Of active CDL postings in Lawrence, Kansas this month, 8% are regional and 91% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 1%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Lawrence, Kansas postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 94%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 75% and riders-allowed at 71%.
Lawrence, Kansas vs Kansas: the numbers that diverge
| Lawrence, Kansas | Kansas top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,374 | $5,922 | +8% |
| Dedicated routes | 45% | 37% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Lawrence, Kansas's biggest divergence from Kansas is on average weekly pay, 8% above the state baseline.
Driving CDL in Kansas
Kansas freight moves on the I-70 east-west transcontinental corridor and I-35 north-south, with the Kansas City metro (split with MO) as the regional hub. Wheat, beef, and grain dominate outbound loads, especially in summer harvest season. Wichita aerospace and manufacturing adds steady industrial freight. Kansas has a moderate graduated state income tax; cost of living runs near the bottom of the US distribution. Western Kansas is genuinely remote — long stretches between fuel stops on I-70 west of Salina — and tornado season (April-June) shapes route planning each spring.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Lawrence, Kansas
- CDL driver salary in Lawrence, Kansas
- Best owner-operator companies in Kansas
The methodology behind the rankings
Composite-score formula: compensation × 0.30, FMCSA safety × 0.25, benefits × 0.25, operational performance × 0.20. Compensation is anchored on pay percentile and lifted by sign-on bonus tier and guaranteed-pay availability. Operational performance is built mostly from driver-application response data in Lanefinder's platform, with fleet-scale percentile contributing a smaller portion. Updated May 2026.