Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Rapid City, South Dakota (September 2026)
Through September 2026, 490 carriers in Rapid City, South Dakota contract owner-operators across the lanes Lanefinder tracks. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $2,657 and an average $2,142 sign-on bonus. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC follows at $8,500/week gross. South Dakota freight runs on I-29 north-south and I-90 east-west, with Sioux Falls as the primary distribution hub, and agricultural shipments of corn, soybeans, and cattle accounting for the bulk of statewide load volume.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Rapid City, South Dakota vs South Dakota: the numbers that diverge
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Rapid City, South Dakota differs most from South Dakota — 19% above statewide.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Rapid City, South Dakota this month
The top of the list is WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC at $2,657/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC tops the Rapid City, South Dakota ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 92nd percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC as a responsive employer.
#2WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $8,500/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC pays above the 89th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Rapid City, South Dakota market. Strongest FMCSA dimension is driver fitness — 93rd percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#3LOAD MONSTER INC — $5,125/wk
LOAD MONSTER INC's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 96th percentile. LOAD MONSTER INC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Rapid City, South Dakota median.
Also in the top 10: #4 Rickman Transport, LLC at $9,250/wk, #5 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #6 GNS TRUCKING INC at $9,000/wk, #7 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #8 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #9 ADAMS TRUCKING INC at $4,750/wk, #10 KILO METER LOGISTIC INC at $7,500/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Rapid City, South Dakota
Of active CDL postings in Rapid City, South Dakota this month, 7% are regional and 93% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 0%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Rapid City, South Dakota postings; dedicated routes at 27%; take-truck-home at 93%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 75% and riders-allowed at 73%.
Driving CDL in South Dakota
South Dakota freight runs on I-29 north-south and I-90 east-west, with Sioux Falls as the primary distribution hub. Agricultural shipments of corn, soybeans, and cattle account for the bulk of statewide load volume. Cost of living is among the lowest in the country, and South Dakota has no state income tax — both meaningful for drivers based here. Winter on the I-90 stretch through the prairie is severe (drifting snow, ice). Western SD is genuinely remote — long fuel-stop gaps. Cattle hauling in the western half is a distinct seasonal segment.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Rapid City, South Dakota
- CDL driver salary in Rapid City, South Dakota
- Best owner-operator companies in South Dakota
How we compile these rankings
Compensation (30%): pay percentile + sign-on bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement frequency. FMCSA safety (25%): weighted percentile across vehicle maintenance, unsafe driving, hours-of-service, driver fitness, and controlled substances. Benefits (25%): hiring-type-aware. Operational (20%): driver-application responsiveness, modulated by fleet scale. Updated September 2026.