Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Lincoln, California (May 2026)
Through May 2026, 203 carriers in Lincoln, California contract owner-operators across the lanes Lanefinder tracks. Zmile Inc leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $3,233. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC follows at $2,525/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 May 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 | $7,759 | $6,849 | +13% |
| Sign-on bonus rate | 22% | 27% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Lincoln, California's biggest divergence from California is on average weekly pay, 13% above the state baseline.
Lincoln, California's top owner-operator carriers right now
The top of the list is Zmile Inc at $3,233/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1Zmile Inc — $3,233/wk
Zmile Inc is number-one in Lincoln, California this month on the composite ranking. On hours-of-service compliance, the carrier ranks in the 98th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Lincoln, California.
#2AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,525/wk
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data. The comp package includes a guaranteed-pay structure — useful when freight slows.
Among Lincoln, California's top 10, only AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC pays guaranteed weekly wages — useful if route variance matters.
#3TAZ TRUCKING INC — $10,999/wk
TAZ TRUCKING INC pays above the 93rd percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Lincoln, California market. TAZ TRUCKING INC ranks in the 83rd percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data.
For pure pay maximization, TAZ TRUCKING INC beats the #1-ranked carrier weekly at $10,999.
Also in the top 10: #4 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #5 IKKO LOGISTICS LLC at $8,250/wk, #6 Rickman Transport, LLC at $9,250/wk, #7 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #8 GNS TRUCKING INC at $9,000/wk, #9 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #10 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Lincoln, California
Of active CDL postings in Lincoln, California this month, 11% are regional and 85% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 4%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Lincoln, California postings; dedicated routes at 36%; take-truck-home at 87%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 73% and riders-allowed at 70%.
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 May 2026.