Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Portsmouth, Virginia (May 2026)
570 owner-operator carriers are hiring in Portsmouth, Virginia this 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. Virginia freight is anchored by the Port of Virginia at Norfolk and Hampton Roads, the deepest commercial harbor on the East Coast (55 ft after the Gateway dredging program), with I-95 / I-64 / I-81 truck corridors connecting it to the mid-Atlantic and Southeast markets.
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 Portsmouth, Virginia compares to Virginia
| Portsmouth, 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
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Portsmouth, Virginia differs most from Virginia — 18% above statewide.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Portsmouth, 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 tops the Portsmouth, Virginia ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 98th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Portsmouth, Virginia.
#2Performance Trucking Inc — $8,000/wk
Performance Trucking Inc's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 93rd percentile across Portsmouth, Virginia. Strongest FMCSA dimension is driver fitness — 99th percentile.
#3Zmile Inc — $2,987/wk
Zmile Inc's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 98th percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's 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.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Portsmouth, Virginia
8% of Portsmouth, Virginia's active CDL postings are regional and 90% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (2%).
Across Portsmouth, 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 Portsmouth, Virginia
- CDL driver salary in Portsmouth, Virginia
- Best owner-operator companies in Virginia
Where this data comes from
Compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance — weighted 30, 25, 25, and 20 percent respectively. Compensation extends beyond headline pay to include sign-on bonus tier and settlement cadence. Benefits scoring differs by hiring type because the perks that matter to a W2 driver and a contractor are not the same. Updated May 2026.