Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Waco, Texas (May 2026)
Lanefinder is tracking 634 owner-operator carriers in Waco, Texas (May 2026). 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. Texas freight moves on I-10 / I-35 / I-20 corridors connecting Gulf Coast energy and Port of Houston to border crossings at Laredo and El Paso — two of the busiest US-Mexico commercial crossings — and large retail and manufacturing distribution inland.
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 Waco, Texas compares to Texas
| Waco, Texas | Texas top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,703 | $5,377 | +25% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 86% | 75% | +11 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 86% | 77% | +9 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 49% | 42% | +7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Waco, Texas differs most from Texas — 25% above statewide.
The owner-operator carriers leading Waco, Texas 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 tops the Waco, Texas ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 98th percentile. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Waco, Texas median.
#2Zmile Inc — $2,987/wk
Zmile Inc's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 98th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#3AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,525/wk
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data. Weekly pay is guaranteed regardless of miles run.
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC stands alone in Waco, Texas'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 TRI-COAST CARRIERS LLC at $8,500/wk, #8 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #9 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #10 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk.
What Waco, Texas drivers actually run
9% of Waco, Texas's active CDL postings are regional and 88% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (3%).
Across Waco, Texas CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 92% take-truck-home, 74% pet-friendly, 70% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Texas
Texas is the largest CDL market in the country and the deepest mix of lane types. Cross-border work out of Laredo and El Paso, oil-field service in the Permian Basin, dedicated retail out of Dallas and Houston, and reefer pulling produce out of the Rio Grande Valley all run from different parts of the state — and they pay very differently. Texas has favorable trucking regulations and no state income tax, which is real money on the back end. The summer heat is the operational variable most newcomers underestimate; equipment, hours, and load-securing all behave differently when ambient temps hit 110°F.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Waco, Texas
- CDL driver salary in Waco, Texas
- Best owner-operator companies in Texas
How we compile these rankings
Pay carriers against each other within the same market (30%). Layer a weighted FMCSA SAFER safety percentile on top (25%). Score the benefits package against what actually matters for the hiring type — W2 health/financial benefits or owner-op operational perks (25%). Finish with operational performance: responsiveness to driver applications plus fleet scale (20%). All percentiles are recomputed monthly. Updated May 2026.