Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Syracuse, New York (May 2026)
In Syracuse, New York as of May 2026, 524 carriers are actively hiring owner-operators. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $5,491 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. Zmile Inc follows at $2,987/week gross. New York freight is anchored by the Port of New York and New Jersey complex, the busiest on the East Coast, with I-87 / I-95 truck corridors and dense last-mile delivery demand across the New York City metro.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Syracuse, New York vs New York: the numbers that diverge
| Syracuse, New York | New York top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $7,214 | $6,009 | +20% |
| Dedicated routes | 51% | 46% | +5 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 84% | 79% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Syracuse, New York differs most from New York — 20% above statewide.
Syracuse, New York's top owner-operator carriers right now
The top of the list is YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC at $5,491/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC — $5,491/wk
YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC leads the Syracuse, New York market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. On hours-of-service compliance, the carrier ranks in the 98th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. Lanefinder's application data flags YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC as a responsive employer.
#2Zmile Inc — $2,987/wk
Zmile Inc's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 98th percentile. Zmile Inc tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#3AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,416/wk
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Syracuse, New York median. Pay is guaranteed on a weekly minimum.
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC stands alone in Syracuse, New York's top 10 on guaranteed pay — every other ranked carrier here pays per-mile or per-load.
Also in the top 10: #4 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #5 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #6 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #7 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #8 Rickman Transport, LLC at $9,250/wk, #9 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #10 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Syracuse, New York
The route mix in Syracuse, New York this month tilts OTR: 7% regional, 91% OTR, 0% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Syracuse, New York CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 28% dedicated, 93% take-truck-home, 74% pet-friendly, 71% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in New York
New York CDL work is mostly upstate or NYC-metro last-mile — almost no through-driver wants to deal with the Five Boroughs more than necessary. The patchwork of bridge tolls (MTA Bridges & Tunnels, Port Authority, Thruway Authority), the truck-route restrictions in Manhattan and on the parkways, and the weight-on-bridge rules add real planning overhead. Long Island delivery work pays a premium for drivers who can actually navigate it. Upstate freight on I-90 / I-87 looks much more like normal interstate driving, with the addition of real winter — lake-effect snow off Erie and Ontario can shut runs down. State income tax is high; many drivers based here run out-of-state lanes to keep the math working.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Syracuse, New York
- CDL driver salary in Syracuse, New York
- Best owner-operator companies in New York
The methodology behind the rankings
The score is built from four buckets. Thirty percent compensation, drawn from real active job postings and modified by bonus and settlement structure. Twenty-five percent safety, from FMCSA SAFER. Twenty-five percent benefits, scored hiring-type-aware. Twenty percent operational performance, drawn from how carriers actually behave toward applicants. Updated May 2026.