Updated July 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in San Francisco, California (July 2026)
San Francisco, California's owner-operator market includes 201 active carriers as of July 2026. ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $5,500. INLAND EMPIRE LLC follows at $7,875/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 July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
San Francisco, California's top owner-operator carriers right now
The top of the list is ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC at $5,500/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC — $5,500/wk
ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC tops the San Francisco, California ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 96th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the San Francisco, California median.
#2INLAND EMPIRE LLC — $7,875/wk
INLAND EMPIRE LLC is active in San Francisco, California with a current open requisition.
#3OVERLOG INC — $7,250/wk
Lanefinder's application data flags OVERLOG INC as a responsive employer.
Also in the top 10: #4 Rickman Transport, LLC at $9,250/wk, #5 GNS TRUCKING INC at $9,000/wk, #6 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #7 Always Franklin LLC at $8,250/wk, #8 TP TRUCKING at $8,500/wk, #9 IKKO LOGISTICS LLC at $8,250/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, 88% OTR, 1% local, 0% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 3% of San Francisco, California postings; dedicated routes at 35%; take-truck-home at 87%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 73% and riders-allowed at 69%.
How San Francisco, California compares to California
| San Francisco, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $7,489 | $6,881 | +9% |
| Dedicated routes | 38% | 50% | -12 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
The largest gap is on dedicated routes: San Francisco, California sits 12 points below the California baseline.
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 July 2026.