Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Santa Clarita, California (September 2026)
Lanefinder's index counts 224 active owner-operator carriers in Santa Clarita, California this September 2026. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $8,416. 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.
How Santa Clarita, California compares to California
| Santa Clarita, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $7,640 | $6,574 | +16% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 84% | 90% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Santa Clarita, California differs most from California — 16% above statewide.
The owner-operator carriers leading Santa Clarita, California this month
The top of the list is WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $8,416/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $8,416/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC is number-one in Santa Clarita, California this month on the composite ranking. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC pays above the 86th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Santa Clarita, California market. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 93rd percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Santa Clarita, California median.
#2Rickman Transport, LLC — $9,250/wk
Rickman Transport, LLC's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 95th percentile across Santa Clarita, California. Top FMCSA dimension here is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 91st percentile.
Rickman Transport, LLC leads Santa Clarita, California's top 10 on sign-on bonus, advertising $6,000 for new drivers.
#3Always Franklin LLC — $8,250/wk
Always Franklin LLC pays above the 86th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Santa Clarita, California market. Top FMCSA dimension here is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 94th percentile.
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 KILO METER LOGISTIC INC at $7,500/wk, #8 TP TRUCKING at $8,500/wk, #9 ZAIETS TRANSPORTATION LLC at $8,675/wk, #10 ARCHER HOLDING GROUP at $8,000/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Santa Clarita, California
13% of Santa Clarita, California's active CDL postings are regional and 85% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (2%).
Across Santa Clarita, California CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 41% dedicated, 85% take-truck-home, 67% pet-friendly, 66% 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 Santa Clarita, California
- CDL driver salary in Santa Clarita, California
- Best owner-operator companies in California
The methodology behind the rankings
Compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance — weighted 30, 25, 25, and 20 percent respectively. Compensation extends beyond headline pay to include sign-on bonus tier and settlement cadence. Benefits scoring differs by hiring type because the perks that matter to a W2 driver and a contractor are not the same. Updated September 2026.