Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Topeka, Kansas (May 2026)
Lanefinder tracks 587 owner-operator carriers hiring in Topeka, Kansas. Rankings below reflect May 2026 data: pay percentiles, FMCSA safety, benefit prevalence, and operational performance. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $5,491 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC follows at $2,525/week gross. Kansas freight moves on the I-70 east-west transcontinental corridor and I-35 north-south, with agricultural commodities — wheat, beef, and grain — dominating loads and the Kansas City metro serving as a regional hub.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
How Topeka, Kansas compares to Kansas
| Topeka, Kansas | Kansas top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,759 | $5,922 | +14% |
| Dedicated routes | 47% | 37% | +10 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Topeka, Kansas differs most from Kansas — 14% above statewide.
The owner-operator carriers leading Topeka, Kansas this month
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 Topeka, Kansas market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 98th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Topeka, Kansas.
#2AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,525/wk
Lanefinder's application data flags AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC as a responsive employer. Weekly pay is guaranteed regardless of miles run.
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC stands alone in Topeka, Kansas's top 10 on guaranteed pay — every other ranked carrier here pays per-mile or per-load.
#3WIDER GROUP INC — $6,250/wk
WIDER GROUP INC is active in Topeka, Kansas with a current open requisition.
Also in the top 10: #4 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #5 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #6 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #7 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #8 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #9 Red Diamond Freight, LLC at $7,045/wk, #10 TITAN FREIGHT LINES INC at $8,500/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Topeka, Kansas
8% of Topeka, Kansas's active CDL postings are regional and 91% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Across Topeka, Kansas CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 94% take-truck-home, 75% pet-friendly, 71% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Kansas
Kansas freight moves on the I-70 east-west transcontinental corridor and I-35 north-south, with the Kansas City metro (split with MO) as the regional hub. Wheat, beef, and grain dominate outbound loads, especially in summer harvest season. Wichita aerospace and manufacturing adds steady industrial freight. Kansas has a moderate graduated state income tax; cost of living runs near the bottom of the US distribution. Western Kansas is genuinely remote — long stretches between fuel stops on I-70 west of Salina — and tornado season (April-June) shapes route planning each spring.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Topeka, Kansas
- CDL driver salary in Topeka, Kansas
- Best owner-operator companies in Kansas
Where this data comes from
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 May 2026.