Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Salem, Oregon (September 2026)
434 owner-operator carriers are currently posting jobs in Salem, Oregon as of September 2026. 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. Oregon freight moves on I-5 north-south through Portland and Eugene, with the Port of Portland handling bulk grain and auto imports, and agricultural and forestry exports — wheat, hay, lumber — generating significant outbound volumes.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Salem, Oregon's top owner-operator carriers right now
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 is number-one in Salem, Oregon this month on the composite ranking. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 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's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 94th percentile across Salem, Oregon. Top FMCSA dimension here is driver fitness, in the 93rd percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#3Rickman Transport, LLC — $9,250/wk
Rickman Transport, LLC pays above the 91st percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Salem, Oregon market. Rickman Transport, LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 91st percentile.
The top sign-on bonus in Salem, Oregon's top 10 is Rickman Transport, LLC's — $6,000.
Also in the top 10: #4 GNS TRUCKING INC at $9,000/wk, #5 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #6 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #7 KILO METER LOGISTIC INC at $7,500/wk, #8 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk, #9 TP TRUCKING at $8,500/wk, #10 LOAD MONSTER INC at $2,450/wk.
What Salem, Oregon drivers actually run
The route mix in Salem, Oregon this month tilts OTR: 7% regional, 91% OTR, 1% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Salem, Oregon postings; dedicated routes at 27%; take-truck-home at 93%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 74% and riders-allowed at 72%.
How Salem, Oregon compares to Oregon
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Salem, Oregon sits 9% above the Oregon baseline.
Driving CDL in Oregon
Oregon freight moves on I-5 north-south through the Willamette Valley (Portland-Salem-Eugene), with the Port of Portland handling bulk grain (one of the largest US wheat-export terminals) and auto imports. Agricultural and forestry exports — wheat, hay, lumber, Christmas trees in season — generate significant outbound volume. Mountain passes on I-84 east and on US-26 west of Mt. Hood are winter operational variables. Oregon has no general sales tax but a high graduated state income tax. Cost of living in Portland is high; rural OR is more affordable.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Salem, Oregon
- CDL driver salary in Salem, Oregon
- Best owner-operator companies in Oregon
The methodology behind the rankings
Four weighted components. Compensation carries 30% and includes pay percentile, sign-on bonus tier, guaranteed-pay availability, and settlement frequency. FMCSA safety carries 25%, built from five SAFER dimensions. Benefits carry 25%, scored separately for W2 versus owner-operator carriers. Operational performance carries 20%, measuring application responsiveness and fleet scale. Updated September 2026.