Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in San Rafael, California (September 2026)
204 owner-operator carriers are currently posting jobs in San Rafael, California 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. California freight is dominated by the Port of LA / Long Beach complex, Central Valley agriculture, and the Inland Empire warehouse cluster along I-10 and I-15.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
San Rafael, California vs California: the numbers that diverge
| San Rafael, 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
San Rafael, California's biggest divergence from California is on average weekly pay, 18% above the state baseline.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in San Rafael, California this month
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 is number-one in San Rafael, California this month on the composite ranking. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC sits in the 92nd percentile for gross weekly revenue among San Rafael, California carriers. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 93rd percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in San Rafael, California.
#2Rickman Transport, LLC — $9,250/wk
Rickman Transport, LLC sits in the 95th percentile for gross weekly revenue among San Rafael, California carriers. Rickman Transport, LLC ranks in the 91st percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data.
Rickman Transport, LLC offers the highest sign-on bonus among San Rafael, California's top 10 — $6,000.
#3Always Franklin LLC — $8,250/wk
Always Franklin LLC pays above the 85th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the San Rafael, California market. Always Franklin LLC ranks in the 94th percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on 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 Rafael, California
The route mix in San Rafael, California this month tilts OTR: 13% regional, 86% OTR, 1% local, 0% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across San Rafael, California CDL postings: 3% with guaranteed pay, 38% dedicated, 87% take-truck-home, 70% pet-friendly, 69% riders-allowed.
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 Rafael, California
- CDL driver salary in San Rafael, California
- Best owner-operator companies in California
Where this data comes from
Lanefinder's ranking algorithm weights compensation at 30%, FMCSA SAFER safety at 25%, benefits at 25%, and operational performance at 20%. Compensation reflects pay percentile plus sign-on bonus, guaranteed pay, and settlement-frequency adjustments. Benefits scoring is hiring-type-aware. Operational performance comes mostly from how carriers handle real driver applications. Updated September 2026.