Transporting freight is a very demanding job and, above all, a huge industry that is expanding every single day.
The demand for professional truck drivers is huge as well, and the ongoing truck driver shortage is now estimated at 80,000, up from 61,000 just three years ago. This is becoming much of an exponential demand since the beginning of the pandemic, and companies need to give maximum effort and provide extra resources to reduce employee turnover.
In fact, truck drivers are getting bigger paychecks compared to a year ago, but that doesn’t solve the shortage issue. Truck drivers now are having the privilege to choose their company wisely, and in this article, we would like to present some of the best over the road trucking companies that are the choice for truck drivers. They invest in human resources, equipment and technology so deserves to be featured in this list.
Let’s now see 10 of the best over the road companies in the US.
1. Walmart
Working at Walmart as an OTR truck driver is dream for many who aspire to build an awesome career in trucking. Yes, everyone wants to work at Walmart, but it’s not easy because it’s really competitive and difficult to get a job here.
The starting salary at Walmart is $87,000. That’s equivalent to 89 cpm in the first year, which is one of the highest in the industry.
Moreover, Walmart OTR drivers enjoy some great perks and benefits: dental and vision plans, 401(k), stock purchase plans, life insurance, employee discounts, parental leave, bonus pay, up to 21 paid days in the first year and others.
That’s why they say the only reason people leave Walmart is retirement. Because it’s a company that invest in people, and happy people means better business outcomes.
2. Schneider
Schneider is well-known name in the Transportation world, and you can’t miss this company if you search for a reliable and trustworthy partner that respects its drivers. In Schneider, you can make a great career as Solo, Team, VTL, Dedicated or Tanker Driver.
Top OTR Drivers make up to $83,000 yearly and sign-on bonus up to $7500. However, Schneider guarantees at least $900 weekly during your first 120 days. So obviously, you’re earning more as you stay more with the company. And if you don’t have a CDL license, they will pay your tuition at a partnering CDL training school.
They offer well-rounded benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) savings plan, paid orientation, extra perks, and paid time off.
3. Roehl
Roehl is another professional OTR company known for its honesty, safety, and respect for its staff, and deserves to be among the top in our list. Drivers enjoy the benefits of a solid foundation and respectable benefits in the name of medical & dental insurance, life insurance, 401(k), voluntary vision plan and more.
Inexperienced drivers and those without CDL license can also find a place under the umbrella. New drivers can start their career as a student driver, and progress as a company driver and owner operator. And those without CDL shouldn’t worry because Roehl will pay them to get a CDL start their career immediately.
As for the salary, experienced driver makes $1200+ weekly, plus get consistent miles, weekly pay and home time.
4. Prime Inc
You’ve probably heard of Prime. It’s a well-established trucking company that offers a lot of driving opportunities, but here we will focus on the OTR position. At Prime, over the road drivers are typically 3-4 weeks on the road before returning home. OTR refrigerated solo drivers earn 53 cpm, flatbed drivers earn 50 cpm, while tanker drivers make 55 cpm. The salary for team drivers is 56 cpm split, 54 cpm split, and 57 cpm split respectively.
The benefits package is pretty much impressive because it’s designed to stay healthy, secure and have good work-life balance. The package includes wellness program, medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, term life and AD&D insurance, permanent life insurance, accident insurance, STD and LTD insurance and 401(k) retirement plan.
Overall, Prime Inc is stable company you might want to continue your OTR career.
5. XPO Logistics
XPO is one of the fastest-growing trucking companies you don’t want to miss out when looking for a new over the road job.
OTR drivers at XPO have paid orientation, safety and performance bonuses, paid vacation and holidays, life insurance, medical insurance, vision and dental insurance and very flexible working time. The drivers are on the road for 14-21 days.
An average OTR driver at XPO earns $2500 weekly. Layover and breakdown are paid $75 daily.
6. Freightech
Very often, family-owned companies are proving to be among the best working places, and Freightech is a real example of reliable and professional company that follows the tradition of a good management and offers a lot of opportunities for CDL A OTR drivers.
The salary at Freightech for solo company drivers ranges from $1650 to $2200 weekly, depending on the miles you drive. The more you drive, the more you earn, but the home time is flexible, meaning you can ask for hauls that allow more home time and vice versa.
As an OTR driver, you can enjoy some great benefits including safety, sign-on, clear DOT inspection and driver of the month bonuses, extra stop pay, fuel company cards, 100% no-touch freight and others.
7. PTL
With 85 years in business, and various career paths to choose from, PTL is certainly a top choice in your driving career. Top drivers earn $85K yearly, while getting other valuable benefits and more importantly, earning an ownership in the company with every mile on the road. Yes, PTL is employee-owner trucking company, where employees will be a fully vested owner in just five years. It’s a worthy benefit in a support of your retirement plan.
Other benefits include 401k match, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, and paid vacation. Moreover, drivers are getting incentives for hazmat and northeast driving, but that’s optional.
8. PAM Transport
Starting small with only 5 used Freightliner tractors and 15 trailers, PAM Transport celebrated its 40th birthday with over 2000 tractors, 6000 trailers, 2400 drivers and many satisfying clients.
Now a publicly traded company, PAM Transport offers OTR jobs with flexible home time. You can be home weekly or home after ten days, but of course, you will earn more as you spend more time on the road. For example, OTR driver with weekly home time earns .46 cpm and drives 2000-2500 miles weekly.
PAM is promising up to $6500 a year in new pay rises with no raise cap, and $750 monthly performance bonus with 8000 monthly safe miles and no CSA violations.
The benefits package is decent, with health and dental insurance, paid vacation, retirement plan, latest equipment, and online orientation.
Overall, a good place to be.
9. ATS
As the urgent need emerged for truck drivers, many companies as we stated above started to invest more in the staff, technology and safety, and one particular company that does a great job in this regard is ATS.
New company van drivers start at 50 cpm – 52 cpm depending on experience, but with its exclusive Upside Pay program, earnings are higher. The program pays you per mile or 28 percent of the transportation revenue. In this way, over the road company drivers average up to 75 cpm. So the yearly salary could go from $72,500 to $93,000, which is respectable.
In addition, drivers can enjoy great benefits such as vacation pay, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, 401k, employee assistance, flexible spending accounts and other.
10. J.B. Hunt
What do you think, how good can be a company with 29,000 employees and nearly 60 years in the business? Those numbers say a lot, and J.B. Hunt proves it directly on the field.
The company provides diverse opportunities for truckers, and everyone can find a place under the umbrella. The salary for OTR drivers ranges from $57,000 to $95,000 depending on the home time and the type of freight. For example, the average gross salary for dedicated driver with 23 days on and 5 days off is $87,464. For the same position with 14 days on and 2 days off is $78,000. It really depends how much time you are on the road.
As for the benefits, J.B. Hunt offers health insurance after 30 days of employment, online orientation, 401(k) with company match, and paid time-off.
Further reading: 10 Best Owner Operator Companies
Bottom line
If you’re looking for an OTR job, and the best company that will ensure the miles, the salary and some great benefits and pers, consider our list. Although there are hundreds of companies you can choose from, we think these are some of the best OTR companies you can consider. Happy job haunting.