Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Salina, Kansas (May 2026)
In Salina, Kansas as of May 2026, 579 carriers are actively hiring owner-operators. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $5,491 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC follows at $2,525/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 May 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 YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC at $5,491/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC — $5,491/wk
YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC tops the Salina, Kansas ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. On hours-of-service compliance, the carrier ranks in the 98th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Salina, Kansas median.
#2AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,525/wk
Lanefinder's application data flags AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC as a responsive employer. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC guarantees weekly pay — useful when freight slows down.
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC stands alone in Salina, Kansas's top 10 on guaranteed pay — every other ranked carrier here pays per-mile or per-load.
#3WIDER GROUP INC — $6,250/wk
WIDER GROUP INC is active in Salina, Kansas with a current open requisition.
Also in the top 10: #4 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #5 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #6 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #7 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #8 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #9 Red Diamond Freight, LLC at $7,045/wk, #10 TITAN FREIGHT LINES INC at $8,500/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Salina, Kansas
Of active CDL postings in Salina, Kansas this month, 7% are regional and 91% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 2%.
Across Salina, Kansas CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 94% take-truck-home, 75% pet-friendly, 71% riders-allowed.
Where Salina, Kansas differs from the Kansas baseline
| Salina, Kansas | Kansas top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,527 | $5,922 | +10% |
| Dedicated routes | 45% | 37% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Salina, Kansas sits 10% 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 May 2026.