Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in North Dakota (May 2026)
As of May 2026, 553 carriers in North Dakota are posting active jobs for owner-operators. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $7,125 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. Zmile Inc follows at $2,987/week gross. North Dakota freight is dominated by Bakken oil-field service trucking in the western half and agricultural shipments of wheat, soybeans, and corn on I-94 / I-29, with significant cross-border trade through multiple Canadian ports of entry.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
The owner-operator carriers leading North Dakota this month
The top of the list is YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC at $7,125/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC — $7,125/wk
YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC leads the North Dakota market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. Gross weekly revenue here lands in the 86th percentile across North Dakota. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC ranks in the 98th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2Zmile Inc — $2,987/wk
Zmile Inc ranks in the 98th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in North Dakota.
#3AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,600/wk
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the North Dakota median. The comp package includes a guaranteed-pay structure — useful when freight slows.
For guaranteed weekly pay, AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC is the only top-10 North Dakota carrier offering it.
Also in the top 10: #4 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #5 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/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 TITAN FREIGHT LINES INC at $8,500/wk, #10 Red Diamond Freight, LLC at $7,050/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across North Dakota
The route mix in North Dakota this month tilts OTR: 7% regional, 92% OTR, 0% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of North Dakota postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 93%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 76% and riders-allowed at 72%.
Driving CDL in North Dakota
North Dakota freight is dominated by Bakken oil-field service trucking in the western half — Williston, Watford City, and Dickinson are the operational centers. Agricultural freight (wheat, soybeans, corn, sugar beets) runs on I-94 / I-29 in the rest of the state. Significant cross-border trade with Saskatchewan through multiple commercial ports of entry adds international planning overhead. Winter is severe and long, with windchill stretches that affect equipment cold-start and fuel gelling. North Dakota has a low graduated state income tax — among the lowest in the country.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in North Dakota
- CDL driver salary in North Dakota
- Best owner-operator companies in the United States
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.