Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Rock Island, Illinois (September 2026)
Lanefinder tracks 653 owner-operator carriers hiring in Rock Island, Illinois. Rankings below reflect September 2026 data: pay percentiles, FMCSA safety, benefit prevalence, and operational performance. 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. Illinois anchors the US rail and truck network through Chicago, the largest intermodal hub in North America, with I-80 / I-90 / I-55 feeding a dense concentration of manufacturing, warehousing, and cold-chain freight.
What changed in September 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 Rock Island, Illinois 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 leads the Rock Island, Illinois market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. Pay sits above the 90th percentile in the Rock Island, Illinois market. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 87th percentile. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Rock Island, Illinois median.
#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's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 96th percentile. LOAD MONSTER INC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
Also in the top 10: #4 WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $8,750/wk, #5 TITANIUM AMERICAN TRUCKING INC at $6,250/wk, #6 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #7 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #8 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk, #9 AIA TRUCKING INC at $3,450/wk, #10 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $4,975/wk.
What Rock Island, Illinois drivers actually run
The route mix in Rock Island, Illinois this month tilts OTR: 9% regional, 91% OTR, 0% local, 0% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Rock Island, Illinois CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 93% take-truck-home, 73% pet-friendly, 70% riders-allowed.
How Rock Island, Illinois compares to Illinois
| Rock Island, Illinois | Illinois top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $5,737 | $5,355 | +7% |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 86% | 78% | +8 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 88% | 80% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Rock Island, Illinois's biggest divergence from Illinois is on pet-friendly fleets, 8 points above the state baseline.
Driving CDL in Illinois
Illinois is one of the most strategically located CDL states — Chicago is the largest US intermodal rail hub, so a huge percentage of national freight passes through. The metro lanes pay well but congestion on I-80, I-90, and I-294 is consistent enough to be a real income variable. Outside the Chicago metro, downstate Illinois looks much more like Iowa or Indiana — agricultural freight, less density, easier driving. State income tax is moderate. The winter operational profile is severe: lake-effect snow, road salt, and the freezing-thawing cycle eat equipment faster than most southern states.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Rock Island, Illinois
- CDL driver salary in Rock Island, Illinois
- Best owner-operator companies in Illinois
How we compile these rankings
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 September 2026.