Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Utica, New York (May 2026)
There are 524 owner-operator carriers currently posting jobs in Utica, New York. The ranking below reflects active jobs as of May 2026, not historical pay surveys. 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.
Utica, New York vs New York: the numbers that diverge
| Utica, 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 Utica, New York differs most from New York — 20% above statewide.
The owner-operator carriers leading Utica, New York 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 is number-one in Utica, New York this month on the composite ranking. Top FMCSA dimension here is hours-of-service compliance, in the 98th percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2Zmile Inc — $2,987/wk
Zmile Inc's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 98th percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags Zmile Inc as a responsive employer.
#3AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,416/wk
Lanefinder's application data flags AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC as a responsive employer. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC runs a guaranteed-pay structure on the comp package.
Among Utica, New York's top 10, only AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC pays guaranteed weekly wages — useful if route variance matters.
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 Utica, New York
Of active CDL postings in Utica, New York this month, 7% are regional and 91% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 2%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Utica, New York postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 93%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 74% and riders-allowed at 71%.
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 Utica, New York
- CDL driver salary in Utica, New York
- Best owner-operator companies in New York
How we compile these rankings
Pay carriers in the same market against each other (30% of the score). Add a five-dimension FMCSA safety percentile from SAFER (25%). Score benefits based on whether the carrier hires W2 drivers or contractors (25%). Layer on employer responsiveness and fleet scale (20%). The weights are fixed and public. Updated May 2026.