Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Manhattan, Kansas (May 2026)
For owner-operators in Manhattan, Kansas, Lanefinder tracks 580 carriers as of May 2026. 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.
Manhattan, Kansas vs Kansas: the numbers that diverge
| Manhattan, Kansas | Kansas top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,738 | $5,922 | +14% |
| Dedicated routes | 45% | 37% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Manhattan, Kansas sits 14% above the Kansas baseline.
The owner-operator carriers leading Manhattan, 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 is number-one in Manhattan, Kansas 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 Manhattan, Kansas.
#2AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,525/wk
Lanefinder's application data flags AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC as a responsive employer. Weekly pay is guaranteed regardless of miles run.
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC is the only Manhattan, Kansas top-10 carrier that guarantees weekly pay regardless of miles run.
#3WIDER GROUP INC — $6,250/wk
WIDER GROUP INC is active in Manhattan, 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 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #7 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/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.
What Manhattan, Kansas drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Manhattan, Kansas this month, 7% are regional and 91% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 2%.
Across Manhattan, Kansas CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 94% take-truck-home, 75% pet-friendly, 71% riders-allowed.
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 Manhattan, Kansas
- CDL driver salary in Manhattan, Kansas
- Best owner-operator companies in Kansas
Where this data comes from
Compensation is the largest single weight at 30% — pay percentile, sign-on bonus, guaranteed-pay availability, and settlement cadence. FMCSA safety contributes 25%, built from five SAFER dimensions with unsafe-driving and hours-of-service weighted 2× heavier. Benefits contribute 25%, scored separately for W2 versus owner-operator and 1099 carriers. Operational performance — application responsiveness and fleet scale — contributes 20%. Updated May 2026.