Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Smyrna, Tennessee (September 2026)
As of September 2026, 660 carriers in Smyrna, Tennessee are posting active jobs for owner-operators. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $8,500 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC follows at $2,657/week gross. Tennessee is a critical national freight crossroads: Memphis hosts the FedEx global air hub and a major trucking interchange on I-40 / I-55, while Nashville-area automotive and manufacturing plants drive dense I-65 / I-24 lane activity.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
The owner-operator carriers leading Smyrna, Tennessee this month
The top of the list is RAY'S 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.
#1RAY'S TRANSPORT INC — $8,500/wk
RAY'S TRANSPORT INC tops the Smyrna, Tennessee ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC pays above the 90th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Smyrna, Tennessee market. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 87th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. Lanefinder's application data flags RAY'S TRANSPORT INC as a responsive employer.
#2WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 92nd percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#3LOAD MONSTER INC — $5,125/wk
LOAD MONSTER INC's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 96th percentile. LOAD MONSTER INC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
Also in the top 10: #4 WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $8,750/wk, #5 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #6 Freight X LLC at $6,000/wk, #7 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #8 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk, #9 AIA TRUCKING INC at $3,450/wk, #10 M&D TRANSPORT at $7,000/wk.
What Smyrna, Tennessee drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Smyrna, Tennessee this month, 10% are regional and 90% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 0%.
Across Smyrna, Tennessee CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 93% take-truck-home, 73% pet-friendly, 71% riders-allowed.
Where Smyrna, Tennessee differs from the Tennessee baseline
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Smyrna, Tennessee sits 7% above the Tennessee baseline.
Driving CDL in Tennessee
Tennessee is a critical national freight crossroads: Memphis hosts the FedEx Express World Hub — one of the world's largest air cargo hubs by tonnage — and a major trucking interchange on I-40 / I-55, with the nightly sort cycle generating enormous regional dispatch demand. Nashville-area automotive (Nissan Smyrna) and manufacturing drive dense I-65 / I-24 lane activity. Cost of living is below the national average; Tennessee has no state income tax on wages. East TN (Chattanooga, Knoxville) is mountain-adjacent — I-40 east through the Smokies and I-24 across Monteagle pass have real winter weight.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Smyrna, Tennessee
- CDL driver salary in Smyrna, Tennessee
- Best owner-operator companies in Tennessee
The methodology behind the rankings
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.