Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Mentor, Ohio (May 2026)
Mentor, Ohio's owner-operator market includes 638 active 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. B & T EXPRESS INC follows at $6,750/week gross. Ohio sits at the center of the US manufacturing belt, with I-70 / I-71 / I-75 forming a freight grid through Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati and major automotive, steel, and chemical supply chains driving consistent lane demand.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Mentor, Ohio vs Ohio: the numbers that diverge
| Mentor, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,346 | $5,665 | +12% |
| Dedicated routes | 53% | 46% | +7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Mentor, Ohio differs most from Ohio — 12% above statewide.
The owner-operator carriers leading Mentor, Ohio 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 Mentor, Ohio this month on the composite ranking. On hours-of-service compliance, the carrier ranks in the 98th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. Lanefinder's application data flags YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC as a responsive employer.
#2B & T EXPRESS INC — $6,750/wk
B & T EXPRESS INC's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 85th percentile across Mentor, Ohio. B & T EXPRESS INC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 86th percentile.
#3AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,416/wk
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Mentor, Ohio median. Weekly pay is guaranteed regardless of miles run.
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC is the only Mentor, Ohio top-10 carrier that guarantees weekly pay regardless of miles run.
Also in the top 10: #4 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #5 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #6 Zmile Inc at $2,175/wk, #7 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #8 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #9 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #10 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Mentor, Ohio
Of active CDL postings in Mentor, Ohio this month, 10% are regional and 88% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 2%.
Across Mentor, Ohio CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 92% take-truck-home, 73% pet-friendly, 70% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Ohio
Ohio sits at the center of the US manufacturing belt and runs about as much through-freight as any state. I-70, I-71, I-75, and the Ohio Turnpike form a freight grid that's flat, generally well-maintained, and forgiving for newer drivers — Ohio is one of the better states to gain initial OTR experience. The Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati metros each anchor distinct lane profiles (auto, distribution, and pharmaceutical respectively). Winter operational risk is real — lake-effect off Erie, freezing rain in the central part of the state — but less extreme than the Great Plains states. Ohio cost of living is below the national average, which makes the income math work better than the headline pay numbers suggest.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Mentor, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Mentor, Ohio
- Best owner-operator companies in Ohio
How we compile these rankings
The composite score is 30% compensation, 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits, and 20% operational performance. Pay percentiles are computed against carriers currently hiring in each market; FMCSA percentiles come from SAFER and weight unsafe-driving and hours-of-service violations 2× heavier than the other three dimensions. Updated May 2026.