Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Memphis, Tennessee (September 2026)
In Memphis, Tennessee as of September 2026, 639 carriers are actively hiring owner-operators. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $8,500 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC follows at $2,657/week gross. Memphis is home to the FedEx Memphis World Hub (also called the SuperHub) and one of the largest US cargo airports. I-40 and I-55 routes feed Mid-South and Mississippi River freight, with a major Amazon fulfillment cluster adding e-commerce volume.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
The owner-operator carriers leading Memphis, Tennessee this month
The top of the list is RAY'S 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.
#1RAY'S TRANSPORT INC — $8,500/wk
RAY'S TRANSPORT INC is number-one in Memphis, Tennessee this month on the composite ranking. The carrier ranks in the 95th percentile for gross weekly revenue in Memphis, Tennessee. Strongest FMCSA dimension is driver fitness — 87th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 92nd percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC as a responsive employer.
#3LOAD MONSTER INC — $5,125/wk
LOAD MONSTER INC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 96th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Memphis, Tennessee.
Also in the top 10: #4 WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $8,750/wk, #5 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #6 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #7 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk, #8 AIA TRUCKING INC at $3,450/wk, #9 M&D TRANSPORT at $7,000/wk, #10 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $4,975/wk.
What Memphis, Tennessee drivers actually run
The route mix in Memphis, Tennessee this month tilts OTR: 9% regional, 90% OTR, 1% local, 0% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Memphis, Tennessee postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 93%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 73% and riders-allowed at 70%.
Where Memphis, Tennessee differs from the Tennessee baseline
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Memphis, Tennessee sits 9% above the Tennessee baseline.
Driving CDL in Tennessee
Tennessee is a critical national freight crossroads: Memphis hosts the FedEx Express World Hub — one of the world's largest air cargo hubs by tonnage — and a major trucking interchange on I-40 / I-55, with the nightly sort cycle generating enormous regional dispatch demand. Nashville-area automotive (Nissan Smyrna) and manufacturing drive dense I-65 / I-24 lane activity. Cost of living is below the national average; Tennessee has no state income tax on wages. East TN (Chattanooga, Knoxville) is mountain-adjacent — I-40 east through the Smokies and I-24 across Monteagle pass have real winter weight.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Memphis, Tennessee
- CDL driver salary in Memphis, Tennessee
- Best owner-operator companies in Tennessee
How we compile these rankings
Pay carriers in the same market against each other (30% of the score). Add a five-dimension FMCSA safety percentile from SAFER (25%). Score benefits based on whether the carrier hires W2 drivers or contractors (25%). Layer on employer responsiveness and fleet scale (20%). The weights are fixed and public. Updated September 2026.