Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Upland, California (September 2026)
Upland, California's owner-operator market includes 230 active carriers as of September 2026. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $8,500. 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 Upland, California compares to California
| Upland, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $7,697 | $6,574 | +17% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 82% | 90% | -8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Upland, California sits 17% above the California baseline.
The owner-operator carriers leading Upland, California this month
The top of the list is WESTERN MOUNTAIN 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.
#1WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $8,500/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads the Upland, California market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. Pay sits above the 87th percentile in the Upland, 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 Upland, California median.
#2Rickman Transport, LLC — $9,250/wk
Rickman Transport, LLC's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 96th percentile across Upland, California. Strongest FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance — 91st percentile.
Rickman Transport, LLC offers the highest sign-on bonus among Upland, California's top 10 — $6,000.
#3Always Franklin LLC — $8,250/wk
Always Franklin LLC sits in the 90th percentile for gross weekly revenue among Upland, California carriers. Always Franklin LLC ranks in the 94th percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data.
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.
What Upland, California drivers actually run
The route mix in Upland, California this month tilts OTR: 13% regional, 83% OTR, 3% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Upland, California CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 40% dedicated, 84% take-truck-home, 68% pet-friendly, 67% 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 Upland, California
- CDL driver salary in Upland, California
- Best owner-operator companies in California
Where this data comes from
The composite score is 30% compensation, 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits, and 20% operational performance. Pay percentiles are computed against carriers currently hiring in each market; FMCSA percentiles come from SAFER and weight unsafe-driving and hours-of-service violations 2× heavier than the other three dimensions. Updated September 2026.