Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Lincoln, California (September 2026)
Through September 2026, 211 carriers in Lincoln, California contract owner-operators across the lanes Lanefinder tracks. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $8,500. 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.
Lincoln, California vs California: the numbers that diverge
| Lincoln, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $7,597 | $6,574 | +16% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 84% | 90% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Lincoln, California's biggest divergence from California is on average weekly pay, 16% above the state baseline.
Lincoln, California's top owner-operator carriers right now
The top of the list is WESTERN MOUNTAIN 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.
#1WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $8,500/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC is number-one in Lincoln, California this month on the composite ranking. Gross weekly revenue here lands in the 92nd percentile across Lincoln, California. Strongest FMCSA dimension is driver fitness — 93rd percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2Rickman Transport, LLC — $9,250/wk
Rickman Transport, LLC pays above the 90th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Lincoln, California market. Rickman Transport, LLC's top FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 91st percentile.
For sign-on cash, Rickman Transport, LLC posts the largest bonus in Lincoln, California's top 10 at $6,000.
#3Always Franklin LLC — $8,250/wk
Always Franklin LLC's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 90th percentile across Lincoln, California. Always Franklin LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 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 ZAIETS TRANSPORTATION LLC at $8,675/wk, #10 ARCHER HOLDING GROUP at $8,000/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Lincoln, California
Of active CDL postings in Lincoln, California this month, 13% are regional and 86% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 1%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 3% of Lincoln, California postings; dedicated routes at 37%; take-truck-home at 86%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 71% and riders-allowed at 69%.
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 Lincoln, California
- CDL driver salary in Lincoln, California
- Best owner-operator companies in California
How we compile these rankings
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.