Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Topeka, Kansas (September 2026)
Lanefinder tracks 586 owner-operator carriers hiring in Topeka, Kansas. Rankings below reflect September 2026 data: pay percentiles, FMCSA safety, benefit prevalence, and operational performance. 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. 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 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 Topeka, Kansas 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 leads the Topeka, Kansas market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC pays above the 89th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Topeka, Kansas market. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 87th percentile. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Topeka, Kansas median.
#2WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC ranks in the 92nd percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#3LOAD MONSTER INC — $5,125/wk
LOAD MONSTER INC ranks in the 96th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
Also in the top 10: #4 WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $8,583/wk, #5 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #6 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #7 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk, #8 AIA TRUCKING INC at $3,450/wk, #9 TITAN FREIGHT LINES INC at $8,500/wk, #10 M&D TRANSPORT at $7,000/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Topeka, Kansas
8% of Topeka, Kansas's active CDL postings are regional and 92% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (0%).
Across Topeka, Kansas CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 93% take-truck-home, 73% pet-friendly, 70% riders-allowed.
How Topeka, Kansas compares to Kansas
| Topeka, Kansas | Kansas top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,391 | $5,705 | +12% |
| Dedicated routes | 42% | 36% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Topeka, Kansas differs most from Kansas — 12% above statewide.
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 September 2026.