Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Modesto, California (May 2026)
For owner-operators in Modesto, California, Lanefinder tracks 204 carriers as of May 2026. 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.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Modesto, California this month
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 leads the Modesto, California market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. Zmile Inc's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 98th percentile. Zmile Inc responds to driver applications more reliably than the Modesto, California median.
#2AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,525/wk
Lanefinder's application data flags AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC as a responsive employer. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC runs a guaranteed-pay structure on the comp package.
Among Modesto, 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 Modesto, California market. Top FMCSA dimension here is driver fitness, in the 83rd percentile.
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.
Lane mix and benefits across Modesto, California
The route mix in Modesto, California this month tilts OTR: 11% regional, 85% OTR, 1% local, 3% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Modesto, California postings; dedicated routes at 36%; take-truck-home at 87%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 73% and riders-allowed at 70%.
How Modesto, California compares to California
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Modesto, California differs most from California — 14% above statewide.
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 Modesto, California
- CDL driver salary in Modesto, California
- Best owner-operator companies in California
The methodology behind the 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.