Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Norfolk, Virginia (May 2026)
570 owner-operator carriers are currently posting jobs in Norfolk, Virginia 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. Performance Trucking Inc follows at $8,000/week gross. Norfolk anchors the Hampton Roads port complex, one of the deepest natural harbors on the East Coast and a major NATO logistics hub, with container, ro-ro, and military freight on I-64 / I-264 connecting to I-95.
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 Norfolk, Virginia compares to Virginia
| Norfolk, Virginia | Virginia top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,355 | $5,367 | +18% |
| Sign-on bonus rate | 24% | 31% | -7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Norfolk, Virginia sits 18% above the Virginia baseline.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Norfolk, Virginia 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 leads the Norfolk, Virginia market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 98th percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC as a responsive employer.
#2Performance Trucking Inc — $8,000/wk
Performance Trucking Inc sits in the 93rd percentile for gross weekly revenue among Norfolk, Virginia carriers. Top FMCSA dimension here is driver fitness, in the 99th percentile.
#3Zmile Inc — $2,987/wk
Zmile Inc's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 98th percentile. Zmile Inc tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
Also in the top 10: #4 AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC at $2,416/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 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #10 Red Diamond Freight, LLC at $7,025/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Norfolk, Virginia
Of active CDL postings in Norfolk, Virginia this month, 8% are regional and 90% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 2%.
Across Norfolk, Virginia CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 94% take-truck-home, 74% pet-friendly, 72% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Virginia
Virginia freight is anchored by the Port of Virginia at Norfolk and Hampton Roads — the deepest commercial harbor on the East Coast and a top-tier US container gateway. The I-95 / I-64 / I-81 truck corridors connect Norfolk to mid-Atlantic and Southeast markets, with I-81 north-south through the Shenandoah Valley a major regional freight spine. Cost of living varies widely (high in Northern Virginia, moderate elsewhere). Virginia has a moderate graduated state income tax. Northern Virginia (DC suburbs) congestion is consistently top-tier; central and western VA is generally easier driving.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Norfolk, Virginia
- CDL driver salary in Norfolk, Virginia
- Best owner-operator companies in Virginia
Where this data comes from
Pay carriers against each other within the same market (30%). Layer a weighted FMCSA SAFER safety percentile on top (25%). Score the benefits package against what actually matters for the hiring type — W2 health/financial benefits or owner-op operational perks (25%). Finish with operational performance: responsiveness to driver applications plus fleet scale (20%). All percentiles are recomputed monthly. Updated May 2026.