Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Moline, Illinois (May 2026)
654 carriers in Moline, Illinois are actively recruiting owner-operators as of May 2026. Each is scored on a composite of compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance. 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 $2,600/week gross. Illinois anchors the US rail and truck network through Chicago, the largest intermodal hub in North America, with I-80 / I-90 / I-55 feeding a dense concentration of manufacturing, warehousing, and cold-chain freight.
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 Moline, Illinois differs from the Illinois baseline
| Moline, Illinois | Illinois top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,402 | $5,730 | +12% |
| Sign-on bonus rate | 25% | 31% | -6 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 88% | 78% | +10 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 42% | 47% | -5 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 85% | 80% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Moline, Illinois differs most from Illinois — 12% above statewide.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Moline, Illinois 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 Moline, Illinois this month on the composite ranking. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC ranks in the 98th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#2AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,600/wk
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Moline, Illinois median. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC runs a guaranteed-pay structure on the comp package.
For guaranteed weekly pay, AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC is the only top-10 Moline, Illinois carrier offering it.
#3Performance Trucking Inc — $8,000/wk
Performance Trucking Inc's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 93rd percentile across Moline, Illinois. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 99th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #5 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #6 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #7 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #8 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #9 TITAN FREIGHT LINES INC at $8,500/wk, #10 M&D TRANSPORT at $7,000/wk.
What Moline, Illinois drivers actually run
The route mix in Moline, Illinois this month tilts OTR: 9% regional, 90% OTR, 0% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Moline, Illinois postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 94%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 75% and riders-allowed at 71%.
Driving CDL in Illinois
Illinois is one of the most strategically located CDL states — Chicago is the largest US intermodal rail hub, so a huge percentage of national freight passes through. The metro lanes pay well but congestion on I-80, I-90, and I-294 is consistent enough to be a real income variable. Outside the Chicago metro, downstate Illinois looks much more like Iowa or Indiana — agricultural freight, less density, easier driving. State income tax is moderate. The winter operational profile is severe: lake-effect snow, road salt, and the freezing-thawing cycle eat equipment faster than most southern states.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Moline, Illinois
- CDL driver salary in Moline, Illinois
- Best owner-operator companies in Illinois
Where this data comes from
Four weighted components. Compensation carries 30% and includes pay percentile, sign-on bonus tier, guaranteed-pay availability, and settlement frequency. FMCSA safety carries 25%, built from five SAFER dimensions. Benefits carry 25%, scored separately for W2 versus owner-operator carriers. Operational performance carries 20%, measuring application responsiveness and fleet scale. Updated May 2026.