Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Salina, Kansas (September 2026)
In Salina, Kansas as of September 2026, 577 carriers are actively hiring owner-operators. 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. Kansas freight moves on the I-70 east-west transcontinental corridor and I-35 north-south, with agricultural commodities — wheat, beef, and grain — dominating loads and the Kansas City metro serving as a regional hub.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
The owner-operator carriers leading Salina, Kansas 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 Salina, Kansas ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC pays above the 89th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Salina, Kansas market. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 87th percentile. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Salina, Kansas median.
#2WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 92nd percentile. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#3LOAD MONSTER INC — $5,125/wk
LOAD MONSTER INC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 96th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
Also in the top 10: #4 WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $8,500/wk, #5 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #6 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #7 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk, #8 AIA TRUCKING INC at $3,450/wk, #9 TITAN FREIGHT LINES INC at $8,500/wk, #10 M&D TRANSPORT at $7,000/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Salina, Kansas
Of active CDL postings in Salina, Kansas this month, 8% are regional and 92% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 0%.
Across Salina, Kansas CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 93% take-truck-home, 73% pet-friendly, 70% riders-allowed.
Where Salina, Kansas differs from the Kansas baseline
| Salina, Kansas | Kansas top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,393 | $5,705 | +12% |
| Dedicated routes | 42% | 36% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Salina, Kansas sits 12% above the Kansas baseline.
Driving CDL in Kansas
Kansas freight moves on the I-70 east-west transcontinental corridor and I-35 north-south, with the Kansas City metro (split with MO) as the regional hub. Wheat, beef, and grain dominate outbound loads, especially in summer harvest season. Wichita aerospace and manufacturing adds steady industrial freight. Kansas has a moderate graduated state income tax; cost of living runs near the bottom of the US distribution. Western Kansas is genuinely remote — long stretches between fuel stops on I-70 west of Salina — and tornado season (April-June) shapes route planning each spring.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Salina, Kansas
- CDL driver salary in Salina, Kansas
- Best owner-operator companies in Kansas
The methodology behind the rankings
The score is built from four buckets. Thirty percent compensation, drawn from real active job postings and modified by bonus and settlement structure. Twenty-five percent safety, from FMCSA SAFER. Twenty-five percent benefits, scored hiring-type-aware. Twenty percent operational performance, drawn from how carriers actually behave toward applicants. Updated September 2026.