Roadrunner Transportation
$58,000 - $88,000OTR, Regional, LTL, Owner-Operator
Very High Demand
Owner Operator Jobs in California
Browse owner-op trucking positions across California with top carriers hiring now.
Pay
Ask the carrier
Demand Level
Very High
Top Carriers
5+ Hiring
Key Cities
5+ Markets
Owner-Op Trucking in California
California is the core West Coast freight market: the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach feed the Inland Empire, the Central Valley moves produce on I-5 and CA-99, and Bay Area / San Diego metros add dense local and OTR demand. The owner-operator market in California is very high; load mix follows the freight geography above rather than a generic regional template. Confirm rates and deadhead with brokers and carriers directly.
Top Companies Hiring Owner-Op Drivers in CA
View Company
J.B. Hunt Transport Services
$55,000 - $95,000OTR, Regional, Dedicated, Intermodal, Local
KLLM Transport
$55,000 - $85,000OTR, Regional, Dedicated, Refrigerated
Marten Transport
$55,000 - $85,000OTR, Regional, Dedicated, Refrigerated, Intermodal
Landstar System
$150,000 - $300,000+ gross (owner-operators)OTR, Flatbed, Specialized, Owner-Operator
Driving job listings in California
These listings are not job offers from this website, and this site does not employ the driver. If a carrier is not named, the card is a description of a type of seat, not an offer of employment.
OTR Dry Van Driver
$57,000 - $80,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Reefer Driver
$62,000 - $88,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Flatbed Driver
$64,000 - $90,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Step Deck Driver
$65,000 - $92,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Tanker Driver
$65,500 - $92,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Hazmat Driver
$67,500 - $95,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Car Hauler Driver
$68,500 - $97,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Oversized Driver
$72,000 - $101,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Regional Intermodal Driver
$58,000 - $82,000/year · Home weekly
Local Box Truck Driver
$48,000 - $67,500/year · Home daily
Regional Dump Truck Driver
$54,000 - $76,500/year · Home most nights
Local Cement Mixer Truck Driver
$55,000 - $77,500/year · Home daily
OTR Hotshot Driver Driver
$59,500 - $84,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
Regional Less Than Truckload Driver
$60,500 - $85,500/year · Home weekly
OTR Power Only Driver
$57,000 - $80,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Local Straight Truck Driver
$47,000 - $66,000/year · Home daily
Top Cities for Owner-Op Jobs in California
Los Angeles
California
Oakland
California
Fresno
California
Sacramento
California
San Diego
California
Key Freight Routes in California
1
I-5 (full state north-south)
2
I-10 (LA to Arizona)
3
I-80 (Bay Area to Nevada/East)
Requirements for Owner-Op Driving in CA
- Valid CDL-A license with 2+ years verifiable experience
- Own or lease a truck meeting carrier/DOT specifications
- Active motor carrier authority (MC number) or willingness to lease onto a carrier
- Current IFTA registration and fuel tax compliance
- Commercial auto liability insurance ($1M minimum for most carriers)
- Clean CSA scores and satisfactory safety rating
Start Your Owner-Op Driving Career in California
Submit your application and get matched with companies hiring owner-op drivers in CA.
Owner-Op Trucking Jobs in California — FAQs
How much do owner-op truck drivers make in California?
This page does not publish a dollar pay band for owner-op drivers in California. The figure that used to appear here was an unsourced regional multiplier, and every state in the same region showed the same band. Ask the carrier for the rate. Sign-on bonuses are widely advertised in this market, but the amount, the qualifying period and the clawback terms differ by carrier — read the offer letter rather than the recruiting ad, and ask when the money actually lands.
Is California a good state to base an owner-operator business?
California offers very high freight volumes for owner-operators, with cross-border and port freight adding premium rate opportunities. Operating costs including fuel, permits, and insurance should be factored against the state's load-to-truck ratio when choosing a home base.
Are trucking companies in California hiring owner-op drivers in 2026?
Yes — owner-op driver demand in California is very high heading into 2026. California is one of the top hiring markets for owner-op drivers, with multiple carriers offering sign-on bonuses, increased CPM rates, and accelerated hiring processes. Check individual carrier listings for current openings and application requirements in CA.