Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Meridian, Mississippi (May 2026)
Lanefinder's index counts 600 active owner-operator carriers in Meridian, Mississippi this May 2026. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $5,491 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. Zmile Inc follows at $2,987/week gross. Mississippi trucking runs I-10 along the Gulf Coast and I-20 / I-55 north-south, with agricultural freight of cotton, soybeans, and catfish, and automotive assembly adding volume from the Nissan plant in Canton.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
How Meridian, Mississippi compares to Mississippi
| Meridian, Mississippi | Mississippi top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,840 | $5,729 | +19% |
| Dedicated routes | 49% | 40% | +9 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 86% | 81% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Meridian, Mississippi differs most from Mississippi — 19% above statewide.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Meridian, Mississippi 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 tops the Meridian, Mississippi ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. Strongest FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance — 98th percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2Zmile Inc — $2,987/wk
Zmile Inc's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 98th percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags Zmile Inc as a responsive employer.
#3Performance Trucking Inc — $8,000/wk
Performance Trucking Inc's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 92nd percentile across Meridian, Mississippi. Performance Trucking Inc's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 99th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC at $2,300/wk, #5 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #6 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/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 Meridian, Mississippi
8% of Meridian, Mississippi's active CDL postings are regional and 90% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (2%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Meridian, Mississippi postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 93%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 74% and riders-allowed at 72%.
Driving CDL in Mississippi
Mississippi trucking runs I-10 along the Gulf Coast and I-20 / I-55 north-south. Agricultural freight (cotton, soybeans, catfish) is the dominant outbound segment. Automotive assembly at the Nissan plant in Canton (just north of Jackson) adds parts-and-finished-vehicle lanes. Cost of living is the lowest in the country, which substantially helps comp math even at modest headline pay rates. Mississippi has a moderate graduated state income tax. Gulf Coast hurricane season is the major weather variable; inland MS is generally easier driving than its Gulf coastline.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Meridian, Mississippi
- CDL driver salary in Meridian, Mississippi
- Best owner-operator companies in Mississippi
The methodology behind the rankings
Compensation (30%): pay percentile + sign-on bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement frequency. FMCSA safety (25%): weighted percentile across vehicle maintenance, unsafe driving, hours-of-service, driver fitness, and controlled substances. Benefits (25%): hiring-type-aware. Operational (20%): driver-application responsiveness, modulated by fleet scale. Updated May 2026.