Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in New Brunswick, New Jersey (May 2026)
As of May 2026, 569 carriers in New Brunswick, New Jersey are posting active jobs for owner-operators. 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. New Jersey is the primary Northeast freight gateway through Port Newark / Elizabeth — the busiest container port on the East Coast — with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and dense intermodal facilities serving the New York metro market.
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 New Brunswick, New Jersey 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 New Brunswick, New Jersey this month on the composite ranking. Top FMCSA dimension here is hours-of-service compliance, in the 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.
#3AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,416/wk
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC offers a guaranteed weekly minimum.
For guaranteed weekly pay, AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC is the only top-10 New Brunswick, New Jersey carrier offering it.
Also in the top 10: #4 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #5 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #6 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #7 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #8 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #9 M&D TRANSPORT at $7,000/wk, #10 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk.
What New Brunswick, New Jersey drivers actually run
9% of New Brunswick, New Jersey's active CDL postings are regional and 86% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (5%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of New Brunswick, New Jersey postings; dedicated routes at 30%; take-truck-home at 90%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 71% and riders-allowed at 68%.
Where New Brunswick, New Jersey differs from the New Jersey baseline
New Brunswick, New Jersey's biggest divergence from New Jersey is on average weekly pay, 8% above the state baseline.
Driving CDL in New Jersey
New Jersey is the primary Northeast freight gateway through Port Newark-Elizabeth — the busiest container port on the East Coast — with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and dense intermodal facilities feeding the New York metro market. Drayage out of the port is the largest single CDL segment. Cost of living is high; New Jersey state income tax is high and graduated (peaks above 10%). Bridge tolls and truck-route restrictions on the Garden State Parkway (no trucks allowed) and certain Hudson crossings add planning overhead. NJ Turnpike traffic is consistently in the worst US tier.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in New Brunswick, New Jersey
- CDL driver salary in New Brunswick, New Jersey
- Best owner-operator companies in New Jersey
The methodology behind the rankings
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.