Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Providence, Rhode Island (May 2026)
Lanefinder tracks 488 owner-operator carriers hiring in Providence, Rhode Island. Rankings below reflect May 2026 data: pay percentiles, FMCSA safety, benefit prevalence, 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. Zmile Inc follows at $2,987/week gross. Providence sits on I-95 connecting Boston and New York, with the Port of Providence handling bulk cargo and the metro serving as a distribution point for southern New England alongside light manufacturing and healthcare logistics.
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 Providence, Rhode Island 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 Providence, Rhode Island this month on the composite ranking. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 98th percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC as a responsive employer.
#2Zmile 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.
#3AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,416/wk
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Providence, Rhode Island median. Pay is guaranteed on a weekly minimum.
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC is the only Providence, Rhode Island top-10 carrier that guarantees weekly pay regardless of miles run.
Also in the top 10: #4 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #5 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #6 IKKO LOGISTICS LLC at $8,250/wk, #7 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #8 Rickman Transport, LLC at $9,250/wk, #9 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #10 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Providence, Rhode Island
7% of Providence, Rhode Island's active CDL postings are regional and 91% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (2%).
Across Providence, Rhode Island CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 94% take-truck-home, 74% pet-friendly, 71% riders-allowed.
Where Providence, Rhode Island differs from the Rhode Island baseline
Providence, Rhode Island's biggest divergence from Rhode Island is on average weekly pay, 3% above the state baseline.
Driving CDL in Rhode Island
Rhode Island is the smallest US state by area but sits directly on I-95 connecting Boston and Providence, putting it in the dense Northeast freight corridor. The Port of Providence handles bulk cargo (oil and aggregates especially). The Providence metro serves as a regional distribution point for southern New England. Cost of living is high; Rhode Island has a moderate graduated state income tax. The state's small geography means most regional drivers based here spend significant time in MA, CT, and NY — treat RI as an I-95 transit waypoint.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Providence, Rhode Island
- CDL driver salary in Providence, Rhode Island
- Best owner-operator companies in Rhode Island
Where this data comes from
Compensation is the largest single weight at 30% — pay percentile, sign-on bonus, guaranteed-pay availability, and settlement cadence. FMCSA safety contributes 25%, built from five SAFER dimensions with unsafe-driving and hours-of-service weighted 2× heavier. Benefits contribute 25%, scored separately for W2 versus owner-operator and 1099 carriers. Operational performance — application responsiveness and fleet scale — contributes 20%. Updated May 2026.