Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (May 2026)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina's owner-operator market includes 640 active carriers as of May 2026. TITANIUM AMERICAN TRUCKING INC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $4,500. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC follows at $5,491/week gross. North Carolina freight moves on I-85 through the Charlotte-to-Raleigh-Durham manufacturing corridor and I-95 north-south, with Port of Wilmington handling containerized exports and a large furniture and textiles production base.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina's top owner-operator carriers right now
The top of the list is TITANIUM AMERICAN TRUCKING INC at $4,500/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1TITANIUM AMERICAN TRUCKING INC — $4,500/wk
TITANIUM AMERICAN TRUCKING INC is number-one in Winston-Salem, North Carolina this month on the composite ranking. TITANIUM AMERICAN TRUCKING INC ranks in the 97th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. TITANIUM AMERICAN TRUCKING INC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#2YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC — $5,491/wk
YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC ranks in the 98th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
For sign-on cash, YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC posts the largest bonus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina's top 10 at $2,000.
#3Performance Trucking Inc — $8,000/wk
Performance Trucking Inc's gross weekly revenue ranks in the 93rd percentile across Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Performance Trucking Inc ranks in the 99th percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC at $2,525/wk, #5 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #6 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #7 Zmile Inc at $2,175/wk, #8 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #9 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #10 Freight X LLC at $6,000/wk.
What Winston-Salem, North Carolina drivers actually run
The route mix in Winston-Salem, North Carolina this month tilts OTR: 10% regional, 89% OTR, 0% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Winston-Salem, North Carolina CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 93% take-truck-home, 74% pet-friendly, 71% riders-allowed.
Where Winston-Salem, North Carolina differs from the North Carolina baseline
| Winston-Salem, North Carolina | North Carolina top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,016 | $5,425 | +11% |
| Sign-on bonus rate | 24% | 29% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Winston-Salem, North Carolina differs most from North Carolina — 11% above statewide.
Driving CDL in North Carolina
North Carolina CDL work spans a broad mix — port-and-container out of Wilmington and Morehead City, manufacturing in the Triangle (Raleigh-Durham), distribution and textile freight around Charlotte, and tobacco / agricultural loads from the eastern half of the state. The driver-experience profile is generally favorable: moderate winters, no significant mountain work outside the western tip, and a cost of living well below the national average even in the metro areas. State income tax is flat and moderate. I-85 between Greensboro and Charlotte is one of the busier Southeast freight lanes; weekday congestion through Greensboro is a planning variable. NC is one of the better states for a new CDL driver to build experience without immediately running mountains or severe weather.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- CDL driver salary in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Best owner-operator companies in North Carolina
How we compile these rankings
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 May 2026.