Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Rochester, New York (September 2026)
516 owner-operator carriers are currently posting jobs in Rochester, New York as of September 2026. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $8,500 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC follows at $2,657/week gross. Rochester sits on I-490 / I-90 near Lake Ontario, with precision manufacturing (Paychex, Kodak legacy operations, medical optics), agricultural flows from the Finger Lakes and western New York, and regional distribution on I-490.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
How Rochester, New York compares to New York
| Rochester, New York | New York top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,951 | $5,511 | +26% |
| Sign-on bonus rate | 26% | 31% | -5 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 50% | 41% | +9 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 88% | 82% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Rochester, New York's biggest divergence from New York is on average weekly pay, 26% above the state baseline.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Rochester, New York this month
The top of the list is RAY'S TRANSPORT INC at $8,500/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1RAY'S TRANSPORT INC — $8,500/wk
RAY'S TRANSPORT INC tops the Rochester, New York ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. Pay sits above the 90th percentile in the Rochester, New York market. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 87th percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags RAY'S TRANSPORT INC as a responsive employer.
#2WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 92nd percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#3LOAD MONSTER INC — $5,125/wk
LOAD MONSTER INC ranks in the 96th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. LOAD MONSTER INC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
Also in the top 10: #4 TITANIUM AMERICAN TRUCKING INC at $6,250/wk, #5 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #6 Rickman Transport, LLC at $9,250/wk, #7 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #8 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #9 KILO METER LOGISTIC INC at $7,500/wk, #10 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk.
What Rochester, New York drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Rochester, New York this month, 7% are regional and 93% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 0%.
Across Rochester, New York CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 29% dedicated, 92% take-truck-home, 73% pet-friendly, 70% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in New York
New York CDL work is mostly upstate or NYC-metro last-mile — almost no through-driver wants to deal with the Five Boroughs more than necessary. The patchwork of bridge tolls (MTA Bridges & Tunnels, Port Authority, Thruway Authority), the truck-route restrictions in Manhattan and on the parkways, and the weight-on-bridge rules add real planning overhead. Long Island delivery work pays a premium for drivers who can actually navigate it. Upstate freight on I-90 / I-87 looks much more like normal interstate driving, with the addition of real winter — lake-effect snow off Erie and Ontario can shut runs down. State income tax is high; many drivers based here run out-of-state lanes to keep the math working.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Rochester, New York
- CDL driver salary in Rochester, New York
- Best owner-operator companies in New York
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 September 2026.