Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in San Francisco, California (September 2026)
San Francisco, California's owner-operator market includes 204 active carriers as of September 2026. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $8,500. Rickman Transport, LLC follows at $9,250/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 September 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 | $7,773 | $6,574 | +18% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 84% | 90% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: San Francisco, California sits 18% above the California baseline.
San Francisco, California's top owner-operator carriers right now
The top of the list is WESTERN MOUNTAIN 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.
#1WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $8,500/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads the San Francisco, California market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 92nd percentile across San Francisco, California. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC ranks in the 93rd percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2Rickman Transport, LLC — $9,250/wk
Rickman Transport, LLC pays above the 90th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the San Francisco, California market. On unsafe-driving avoidance, the carrier ranks in the 91st percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
For sign-on cash, Rickman Transport, LLC posts the largest bonus in San Francisco, California's top 10 at $6,000.
#3Always Franklin LLC — $8,250/wk
Always Franklin LLC's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 90th percentile across San Francisco, California. On unsafe-driving avoidance, the carrier ranks in the 94th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #5 GNS TRUCKING INC at $9,000/wk, #6 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #7 TP TRUCKING at $8,500/wk, #8 KILO METER LOGISTIC INC at $7,500/wk, #9 ZAIETS TRANSPORTATION LLC at $8,675/wk, #10 ARCHER HOLDING GROUP at $8,000/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in San Francisco, California
The route mix in San Francisco, California this month tilts OTR: 13% regional, 86% 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 38%; take-truck-home at 87%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 70% and riders-allowed at 69%.
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 September 2026.