Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Wausau, Wisconsin (May 2026)
581 owner-operator carriers are currently posting jobs in Wausau, Wisconsin as of 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 $2,925/week gross. Wisconsin freight moves on I-90 / I-94 through Milwaukee and Madison, with dairy and food processing as the dominant outbound commodity and paper and packaging manufacturing in the Fox River Valley generating consistent industrial loads.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Wausau, Wisconsin vs Wisconsin: the numbers that diverge
| Wausau, Wisconsin | Wisconsin top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $7,353 | $5,399 | +36% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 88% | 79% | +9 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Wausau, Wisconsin differs most from Wisconsin — 36% above statewide.
The owner-operator carriers leading Wausau, Wisconsin 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 Wausau, Wisconsin 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 Wausau, Wisconsin median.
#2Zmile Inc — $2,925/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 — $2,600/wk
Lanefinder's application data flags AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC as a responsive employer. Weekly pay is guaranteed regardless of miles run.
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC stands alone in Wausau, Wisconsin's top 10 on guaranteed pay — every other ranked carrier here pays per-mile or per-load.
Also in the top 10: #4 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #5 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #6 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #7 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #8 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #9 NPK Freight LLC at $10,000/wk, #10 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Wausau, Wisconsin
Of active CDL postings in Wausau, Wisconsin this month, 7% are regional and 92% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 1%.
Across Wausau, Wisconsin CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 94% take-truck-home, 75% pet-friendly, 71% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Wisconsin
Wisconsin freight moves on I-90 / I-94 through Milwaukee and Madison. Dairy and food processing are dominant outbound commodities — Wisconsin's reefer freight is a national-scale segment. Paper and packaging manufacturing in the Fox River Valley generates consistent industrial loads. Great Lakes ports at Green Bay and Superior handle bulk cargo. Cost of living is moderate. Wisconsin has a high graduated state income tax. Winter is severe — lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan affects the eastern third of the state; ice and salt corrosion eat equipment faster than southern states.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Wausau, Wisconsin
- CDL driver salary in Wausau, Wisconsin
- Best owner-operator companies in Wisconsin
The methodology behind the 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.