Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Youngstown, Ohio (May 2026)
Youngstown, Ohio's owner-operator market includes 643 active carriers 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. Performance Trucking Inc follows at $8,000/week gross. Ohio sits at the center of the US manufacturing belt, with I-70 / I-71 / I-75 forming a freight grid through Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati and major automotive, steel, and chemical supply chains driving consistent lane demand.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Youngstown, Ohio vs Ohio: the numbers that diverge
| Youngstown, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,347 | $5,665 | +12% |
| Sign-on bonus rate | 24% | 29% | -5 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 51% | 46% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Youngstown, Ohio's biggest divergence from Ohio is on average weekly pay, 12% above the state baseline.
The owner-operator carriers leading Youngstown, Ohio 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 leads the Youngstown, Ohio market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. 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 Youngstown, Ohio median.
#2Performance Trucking Inc — $8,000/wk
Performance Trucking Inc pays above the 88th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Youngstown, Ohio market. Top FMCSA dimension here is driver fitness, in the 99th percentile.
#3B & T EXPRESS INC — $6,750/wk
B & T EXPRESS INC pays above the 80th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Youngstown, Ohio market. B & T EXPRESS INC's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 86th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC at $2,416/wk, #5 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #6 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #7 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #8 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #9 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #10 Red Diamond Freight, LLC at $7,050/wk.
What Youngstown, Ohio drivers actually run
The route mix in Youngstown, Ohio this month tilts OTR: 10% regional, 88% OTR, 0% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Youngstown, Ohio CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 92% take-truck-home, 74% pet-friendly, 70% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Ohio
Ohio sits at the center of the US manufacturing belt and runs about as much through-freight as any state. I-70, I-71, I-75, and the Ohio Turnpike form a freight grid that's flat, generally well-maintained, and forgiving for newer drivers — Ohio is one of the better states to gain initial OTR experience. The Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati metros each anchor distinct lane profiles (auto, distribution, and pharmaceutical respectively). Winter operational risk is real — lake-effect off Erie, freezing rain in the central part of the state — but less extreme than the Great Plains states. Ohio cost of living is below the national average, which makes the income math work better than the headline pay numbers suggest.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Youngstown, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Youngstown, Ohio
- Best owner-operator companies in Ohio
Where this data comes from
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.