
As an owner operator with Landstar, you can expect to earn a competitive income. Landstar owner operators can earn up to $200,000 per year.
Landstar's business model is designed to give owner operators maximum flexibility and control over their business. This means you get to choose your own routes and loads, giving you the freedom to work on your own terms.
With Landstar's owner operator program, you'll have access to a dedicated support team that will help you navigate the logistics of running your own business. This includes help with paperwork, dispatch, and more.
Landstar's owner operator pay is based on a percentage of the load revenue, which can range from 60% to 80% depending on the type of load and your level of experience.
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Owner Operator Pay Scenarios
As an owner operator with Landstar, you can expect to earn a percentage of the load revenue, plus 100% of the fuel surcharge. This pay structure is a key factor in determining your overall earnings.
Landstar pays a base rate of $828.75 for line haul tractor at 65%, and $89.25 for line haul trailer at 7%. You'll also receive 100% of the fuel surcharge, which can add up quickly.
To give you a better idea of how this works, let's look at an income scenario for a driver pulling their own 53' Dry Van trailer. The total revenue paid to the driver is $1,143.00, which equates to $2.29 per mile paid to the driver.
53' Dry Van
The 53' Dry Van is a common type of trailer used in the trucking industry. It's a versatile option for hauling a variety of goods, from electronics to furniture.
In terms of pay, the line haul for a 53' Dry Van can vary. For example, a pay scenario with Landstar might include a line haul of $1275.00.
The fuel surcharge for a 53' Dry Van is also an important factor. With Landstar, the fuel surcharge is $225.00.
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Here's a breakdown of the line haul and fuel surcharge for a 53' Dry Van with Landstar:
In some cases, the line haul for the tractor may be factored in separately. For example, with a 65% split, the line haul for the tractor would be $828.75.
Owner Operator Compensation
As an owner operator, you'll want to know how you'll be compensated for your hard work. Landstar pays a percentage of the load revenue for each load you haul, plus 100% of the fuel surcharge.
The percentage of load revenue paid by Landstar varies depending on whether you haul with your trailer or lease one from them. If you haul with your trailer, you can expect to earn a certain amount per load.
Here's an example of how to calculate load revenue with a company trailer: $828.75 for the line haul tractor at 65%, $89.25 for the line haul trailer at 7%, and $225.00 for the fuel surcharge paid at 100%.
In some cases, owner operators can earn up to $1,143.00 in total revenue per load, which equates to $2.29 per mile paid to the driver.
The average annual salary for an Owner, Operator at Landstar System Holdings Inc is $63,467, which translates to approximately $31 per hour.
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Compensation and Deductions

As a Landstar owner operator, you can expect to have some deductions taken out of your settlements. These deductions include a $1000 escrow, which is deducted at $62.50 per week for 16 weeks.
You'll also be responsible for paying for your own plates, which cost $1700 per year and are deducted at $94.44 per week for 18 weeks. Permits are another annual cost, totaling $200, and are deducted at $11.11 per week for 18 weeks, but only start after the 5th week.
The Seal & Lock Program is also a requirement, with vans needing a "Warlok" or "Enforcer" lock kit, which costs $125 and is deducted over 5 weeks at $25 per week.
Some costs are more straightforward, like the Landstar Communication Network Cost, which is $3.69 per week. You'll also need to have an Electronic Logging Device (ELD), which can have varying costs depending on the year of your truck, but is deducted over a weekly time frame from your settlements.
Income and Earnings

Landstar owner operator pay can vary depending on several factors, including the type of trailer and cargo. You can earn up to $2.71 per mile paid to the driver when pulling a flatbed trailer and cargo that requires a tarp.
The line haul settlement for a Landstar driver pulling their own 53' Dry Van trailer can be as high as $918.00, which is 72% of what is billed. This can result in a total revenue of $1,143.00 paid to the driver.
With Landstar's Load Board, you can search for loads by destination and book multiple loads at once, reducing deadtime and increasing your earning potential. You can also filter loads by origin, destination, rate-per-mile, and other factors to find the best opportunities.
Here are some examples of income scenarios for Landstar drivers:
Remember, the most successful Landstar drivers work smart, not hard, and use the company's support staff and technology to their advantage.
How Load Board Can Boost Earnings

Using a load board like Landstar's can significantly boost your earnings as an owner-operator. You'll have access to over a thousand loads available to haul, allowing you to choose the best options for your business.
With the ability to filter loads by origin, destination, rate-per-mile, and more, you can find the most lucrative opportunities. By taking advantage of load alerts, you'll never miss a load again, saving you time and increasing your chances of earning more.
You can also opt to receive load alerts via telephone or email, ensuring you stay on top of new opportunities. The load board's training resources can also help you develop the skills you need to succeed as an owner-operator.
The load board's filters include rate-per-mile, truck type, origin, destination, radius, maximum/minimum miles, number of stops, and weight restrictions. This allows you to carefully select loads that fit your business needs and maximize your earnings.
Here are some key filters you can use to find the best loads:
- Rate-per-mile
- Truck type
- Origin
- Destination
- Radius
- Maximum/Minimum miles
- Number of stops
- Weight restrictions
By using the load board effectively, you can reduce dead time and increase your earnings as an owner-operator.
Income for Driver

You can earn a decent income as a Landstar driver, depending on your workload preferences and choices. The pay varies, but let's take a look at some examples.
With a 53' Dry Van trailer, a driver can earn up to $2.10 per mile, as seen in the scenario where the driver pulled a Landstar 53' Dry Van trailer. This is calculated from the $1,053.75 total revenue paid to the driver, which includes a $225.00 fuel surcharge and $828.75 line haul settlement.
Using your own 53' Dry Van trailer can increase your earnings to $2.29 per mile, as demonstrated in the scenario where the driver pulled their own trailer. This is based on a $1,143.00 total revenue paid to the driver.
If you're hauling a flatbed trailer and cargo requires a tarp, you can earn up to $2.71 per mile. This is the highest rate mentioned in the article.
Here's a quick breakdown of the earnings per mile for different scenarios:
Keep in mind that these are just examples, and your actual earnings will depend on your specific situation and choices.
Income Breakdown

Landstar owner operators can earn a decent income, but it varies depending on the specific scenario. For example, a driver pulling a Landstar 53' Dry Van trailer can earn $2.10 per mile paid to the driver.
The breakdown of a freight bill for a Landstar driver pulling their own trailer is as follows:
Landstar pays owner operators 100% back for fuel surcharges and tarp fees, which can vary between $0.42 and $0.50 a mile for fuel surcharges, and between $75.00 and $350.00 for tarp fees.
Driver Income with Flatbed Trailer and Cargo
If you're considering becoming a Landstar driver, you'll want to know how much you can expect to earn. For drivers pulling their own flatbed trailer and cargo, the rate is $2.71 per mile paid to the driver.
This rate can vary depending on your workload preferences, day-to-day choices, and discipline, but the most successful drivers work smart, not hard.
Landstar provides support staff and technology to help you succeed. Here are some pay scenarios for drivers pulling their own flatbed trailer and cargo:
Keep in mind that these figures are subject to change, and your actual earnings may vary.
Income for Dry Van Trailer

Landstar owner-operators can earn a decent income by pulling their own 53' Dry Van trailer. The income scenario for this setup is as follows:
The total revenue paid to the driver can range from $1,355.75 to $1,143.00, depending on the line haul settlement percentage. This is based on a freight bill of $1,700.00 for 500 miles at $3.00 per mile, plus a tarp fee.
To give you a better idea, here's a breakdown of the income:
The driver can earn $2.29 per mile, which is a decent rate considering the expenses involved. Keep in mind that this rate may vary depending on the specific circumstances of the shipment.
Sources
- https://www.americasbesttrucking.com/landstar-pay-and-earnings-potential
- https://www.nonforceddispatch.com/owner-operator-pay/
- https://www.salary.com/research/company/landstar-system-holdings-inc/owner-operator-salary
- https://www.nonforceddispatch.com/how-much-can-i-make-as-an-owner-operator-with-landstar/
- https://www.americasbesttrucking.com/blog/2014/11/15/landstar-recruiting-how-much-money-can-i-make
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