Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in San Francisco, California (May 2026)
San Francisco, California's owner-operator market includes 195 active carriers as of May 2026. Zmile Inc leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $3,233. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC follows at $2,525/week gross. San Francisco freight centers on the Bay Area's Port of Oakland and the I-80 / US-101 / I-280 metro grid, with technology-sector freight, biotech cold chain, and food-and-beverage distribution driven by the region's dense population.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
How San Francisco, California compares to California
| San Francisco, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $7,819 | $6,849 | +14% |
| Dedicated routes | 42% | 47% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: San Francisco, California sits 14% above the California baseline.
San Francisco, California's top owner-operator carriers right now
The top of the list is Zmile Inc at $3,233/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1Zmile Inc — $3,233/wk
Zmile Inc is number-one in San Francisco, California this month on the composite ranking. Zmile Inc's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 98th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in San Francisco, California.
#2AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,525/wk
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the San Francisco, California median. The comp package includes a guaranteed-pay structure — useful when freight slows.
Among San Francisco, California's top 10, only AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC pays guaranteed weekly wages — useful if route variance matters.
#3TAZ TRUCKING INC — $10,999/wk
TAZ TRUCKING INC pays above the 92nd percentile on gross weekly revenue for the San Francisco, California market. Top FMCSA dimension here is driver fitness, in the 83rd percentile.
For pure pay maximization, TAZ TRUCKING INC beats the #1-ranked carrier weekly at $10,999.
Also in the top 10: #4 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #5 IKKO LOGISTICS LLC at $8,250/wk, #6 Rickman Transport, LLC at $9,250/wk, #7 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #8 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #9 GNS TRUCKING INC at $9,000/wk, #10 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in San Francisco, California
The route mix in San Francisco, California this month tilts OTR: 11% regional, 85% OTR, 1% local, 4% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of San Francisco, California postings; dedicated routes at 36%; take-truck-home at 88%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 73% and riders-allowed at 70%.
Driving CDL in California
California is one of the toughest states to drive CDL in the country, and one of the most lucrative for the right setup. CARB clean-truck enforcement is the most aggressive in the US, so newer equipment is effectively required for fleet work — if you're owner-op, plan the truck purchase around it. Drayage out of LA / Long Beach and warehouse-rotation work in the Inland Empire pay near the top of the national scale, but cost of living is brutal. The mountain passes (Cajon, Grapevine, Donner) add real winter complexity that most other Southwest lanes don't. Drivers with serious mountain experience earn it back.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in San Francisco, California
- CDL driver salary in San Francisco, California
- Best owner-operator companies in California
The methodology behind the rankings
Pay carriers in the same market against each other (30% of the score). Add a five-dimension FMCSA safety percentile from SAFER (25%). Score benefits based on whether the carrier hires W2 drivers or contractors (25%). Layer on employer responsiveness and fleet scale (20%). The weights are fixed and public. Updated May 2026.