Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Salem, Oregon (May 2026)
433 owner-operator carriers are currently posting jobs in Salem, Oregon as of May 2026. TAZ TRUCKING INC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $10,999. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC follows at $2,300/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 May 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 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1TAZ TRUCKING INC — $10,999/wk
TAZ TRUCKING INC tops the Salem, Oregon ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. The carrier ranks in the 97th percentile for gross weekly revenue in Salem, Oregon. Top FMCSA dimension here is driver fitness, in the 83rd percentile.
#2AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,300/wk
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Salem, Oregon median. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC runs a guaranteed-pay structure on the comp package.
For guaranteed weekly pay, AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC is the only top-10 Salem, Oregon carrier offering it.
#3D-LINE TRUCKING INC — $5,750/wk
D-LINE TRUCKING INC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Salem, Oregon median.
Also in the top 10: #4 IKKO LOGISTICS LLC at $8,250/wk, #5 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #6 Rickman Transport, LLC at $9,250/wk, #7 GNS TRUCKING INC at $9,000/wk, #8 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #9 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #10 TITAN FREIGHT LINES INC at $8,500/wk.
What Salem, Oregon drivers actually run
The route mix in Salem, Oregon this month tilts OTR: 7% regional, 90% OTR, 1% local, 2% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Salem, Oregon postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 93%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 75% and riders-allowed at 73%.
How Salem, Oregon compares to Oregon
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Salem, Oregon sits 10% 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 May 2026.