Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Waltham, Massachusetts (May 2026)
498 owner-operator carriers are hiring in Waltham, Massachusetts this 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 $3,750/week gross. Massachusetts freight runs on the I-90 / I-93 / I-95 metro grid through Boston, with Port of Boston handling bulk and container cargo and a major concentration of biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing requiring cold-chain and hazmat lanes.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Waltham, Massachusetts 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 Waltham, Massachusetts ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. On hours-of-service compliance, the carrier ranks in the 98th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Waltham, Massachusetts median.
#2Zmile Inc — $3,750/wk
Zmile Inc's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 98th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#3AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,416/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 Waltham, Massachusetts's top 10 on guaranteed pay — every other ranked carrier here pays per-mile or per-load.
Also in the top 10: #4 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #5 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #6 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #7 Rickman Transport, LLC at $9,250/wk, #8 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #9 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #10 TITAN FREIGHT LINES INC at $8,500/wk.
What Waltham, Massachusetts drivers actually run
8% of Waltham, Massachusetts's active CDL postings are regional and 91% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Across Waltham, Massachusetts CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 28% dedicated, 93% take-truck-home, 74% pet-friendly, 71% riders-allowed.
How Waltham, Massachusetts compares to Massachusetts
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Waltham, Massachusetts differs most from Massachusetts — 6% above statewide.
Driving CDL in Massachusetts
Massachusetts freight runs on the I-90 / I-93 / I-95 grid through Boston, with the Port of Boston handling bulk and container cargo. A dense biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster around Cambridge / Boston / Worcester requires cold-chain and hazmat-eligible lanes. The Big Dig tunnels have truck-height and hazmat restrictions worth checking before routing. Boston congestion is consistently in the worst US tier. Cost of living is among the highest nationally. Massachusetts has a moderate flat state income tax with an added surtax on very high incomes (not relevant for most drivers).
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Waltham, Massachusetts
- CDL driver salary in Waltham, Massachusetts
- Best owner-operator companies in Massachusetts
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.