The best dry van trucking company to work for in 2027 depends on what matters most to you. Pay is important. So are home time, miles, freight, equipment, benefits, and how a company treats its drivers. That is why your search should not start with somebody else's definition of "best." It should start with yours.
At Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), we want drivers to make informed decisions. If ATS is not the right fit for you, that's okay. No trucking company is the best choice for every driver.
For this guide, we narrowed the field to five dry van carriers worth considering in 2027: Nussbaum Transportation, Halvor Lines, Fremont Contract Carriers, American Central Transport, and Decker Truck Line.
We'll explain what stands out about each company and show you how to compare pay, home time, freight, and other factors for yourself.
Five dry van trucking companies that drivers may want to compare in 2027 are Nussbaum Transportation, Halvor Lines, Fremont Contract Carriers, American Central Transport, and Decker Truck Line. They stand out for different combinations of pay, home time, freight, equipment, benefits, and independent recognition.
| Company | What Stands Out | May Be a Good Fit If | What to Verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nussbaum Transportation | Pay transparency, activity pay, weekly home time in its primary hiring area, and long-term third-party recognition | You want strong earning potential without automatically giving up regular home time | Actual earnings and home time for your fleet |
| Halvor Lines | Benefits, newer equipment, career stability, and long-term independent recognition | Equipment, benefits, and long-term career support matter to you | Weekly miles, earnings, and home time |
| Fremont Contract Carriers | Specific earnings and mileage information, no-touch freight, and regional options | You value consistent miles or want more frequent home-time options | Actual fleet averages where you live |
| American Central Transport | Dry van specialization, no-touch freight, and newer equipment | You want to focus on dry van freight and compare different home-time options | OTR versus home-time-focused fleet results |
| Decker Truck Line | Safety recognition, minimum weekly pay, benefits, and modern equipment | Safety, stability, and income protection are priorities | Weekly miles, gross pay, and home time |
This is not a numerical ranking. Each company offers a different mix of pay, home time, freight, equipment, and support.
There are thousands of trucking companies in the United States. No single carrier will fit every driver. For this guide, we reviewed factors that can affect both your income and your daily experience on the road. They included:
We also looked for specific information drivers can verify.
That matters because a large advertised pay number doesn't tell the whole story. You also need to know whether the freight, miles, and support are there to make that income realistic.
Independent recognition can provide another useful signal. Best Fleets to Drive For, for example, evaluates participating fleets across several parts of the driver experience. Those areas include compensation, benefits, professional development, operations, and work-life balance. Driver surveys are part of the process.
No award, review, or statistic can tell you whether a company is right for you. We considered these factors together, rather than allowing one number or award to determine the list.
Carrier information in this article was reviewed using information available when this guide was prepared in fall 2026. Pay, fleet availability, home time, and other details can change. Verify current information with each carrier before making a decision.
Why drivers may consider it: Nussbaum Transportation combines competitive compensation with detailed information about what drivers can expect.
Nussbaum has earned a place in the Best Fleets to Drive For Hall of Fame after more than a decade of recognition through the program. Its dry van drivers have access to guaranteed minimum weekly pay and additional pay for work beyond driving. Weekly home time is also available within the company's primary hiring area.
According to Nussbaum's September 2026 pay announcement, the company increased pay for pickups, deliveries, stop-offs, and trailer relays. It also raised detention pay and its weekly minimum guarantee.
Another positive signal is pay transparency. Nussbaum publishes expected earning ranges instead of relying only on a maximum advertised number.
May be a good fit if: You want strong earning potential without automatically giving up regular home time.
Ask the recruiter: Based on where I live and the fleet I would join, what did drivers in that position actually earn last year? How often were they home?
Why drivers may consider it: Halvor Lines offers an established dry van operation along with benefits, newer equipment, and a long history of independent recognition. The company operates dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, and deck van fleets. It's also a Best Fleets to Drive For Hall of Fame carrier.
Company drivers have access to health, dental, and vision insurance, paid vacation, and retirement benefits. Halvor also promotes flexible home time and assigned late-model tractors.
Those factors matter because a dry van job is about more than cents-per-mile (CPM). A competitive rate has less value if poor equipment causes downtime. Benefits matter when you look at your total compensation, and home time can determine whether a job works for your family and lifestyle.
May be a good fit if: Equipment, benefits, stability, and a long record of driver recognition are high on your list.
Ask the recruiter: What are the expected weekly miles, earnings, and home-time schedule for the dry van fleet I qualify for?
Why drivers may consider it: Fremont Contract Carriers (FCC) gives prospective drivers specific information about pay, miles, and freight.
FCC publishes expected earnings and mileage information for its long-haul dry van fleet. That gives drivers more context than a broad claim about "competitive pay."
Its long-haul dry van operation includes no-touch freight and a high percentage of drop-and-hook loads. FCC also operates regional dry van fleets for drivers seeking more frequent home-time opportunities.
The company has received repeated Best Fleets to Drive For recognition. Driver benefits include retirement options, paid vacation, pay progression and newer trucks.
May be a good fit if: Consistent miles and earning potential are major priorities, or you want to explore regional options with more frequent home time.
Ask the recruiter: Which fleet would I qualify for based on where I live? What are the actual average miles, earnings, and home time for drivers in that fleet?
Why drivers may consider it: American Central Transport (ACT) specializes in dry van freight, making it a direct option for drivers who want to stay in dry van.
ACT has also earned Best Fleets to Drive For recognition and it publishes information about earning potential, practical-mile pay, and its no-touch freight operation.
Home time depends on the fleet. Drivers can compare OTR positions with options designed to provide more frequent home time.
Equipment is another factor to consider. ACT promotes relatively new tractors with driver-focused amenities.
May be a good fit if: You want to focus on dry van freight and value no-touch loads, newer equipment, and different home-time options.
Ask the recruiter: Which fleet is available where I live? How do actual weekly miles, earnings, and home time differ between OTR and more home-time-focused options?
Why drivers may consider it: Decker Truck Line combines dry van opportunities with recent independent recognition, minimum weekly pay, and an emphasis on safety. It operates dry van, refrigerated, and flatbed fleets across several geographic areas.
The company was named the 2025 Best Overall Large Carrier through Best Fleets to Drive For and received recognition again in 2026.
Decker promotes consistent freight, competitive compensation, weekly minimum pay, benefits, and modern equipment.
A weekly minimum can be worth asking about when comparing carriers. Your pay rate matters, but so does what happens during a slow week.
May be a good fit if: Safety, stability, equipment, and the security of minimum weekly pay are important to you.
Ask the recruiter: For the dry van fleet available where I live, what are drivers currently averaging in weekly miles, gross pay, and home time?
A company can look great on paper and still be the wrong fit for your life. Before you compare dry van jobs, decide what matters most to you. Consider:
Then put those priorities in order.
Suppose weekly home time is non-negotiable. A job that pays more but keeps you away for several weeks may not be the better opportunity for you.
Another driver may make the opposite choice. They may prefer more time on the road if it gives them a better chance to maximize their income.
Neither choice is wrong.
The goal is to find a trucking job that fits the life you want.
The highest advertised CPM does not always produce the highest weekly paycheck.
To compare dry van pay, ask about:
When possible, compare actual average earnings with a credible industry benchmark.
Avoid comparing one company's average pay with another company's advertised maximum. Those numbers measure different things. A useful recruiter question is simple:
What did drivers in this exact fleet average in gross weekly pay during the last 12 months?
Then, ask how many drivers that average represents and whether the number includes bonuses or other pay.
Home time depends on the carrier, fleet, and where you live.
Regional and dedicated dry van jobs can offer more frequent home time than traditional OTR positions. But that doesn't mean every regional driver gets home on the same schedule.
Ask for specifics.
Instead of asking, "Does this job have good home time?" ask:
Based on my ZIP code and the fleet I qualify for, how many nights should I expect to be away from home?
That answer is much more useful.
Also ask whether home time is typical or guaranteed. If weekly home time is essential, say that before you apply.
Your priorities can help narrow your search quickly.
If home time matters most: Start with regional and dedicated fleets available where you live. Ask for the actual schedule.
If earning potential matters most: Compare average gross pay, miles, and freight consistency. Do not rely only on CPM.
If you want less freight handling: Ask what percentage of loads are no-touch and drop-and-hook.
If predictable income matters: Ask about guaranteed or minimum weekly pay and what happens when freight slows.
If equipment matters: Ask what tractors are assigned to new drivers, their typical age, and how breakdowns are handled.
If you want long-term growth: Ask whether the company offers other fleets, freight types, or advancement paths you could move into later.
Once you know your priorities, pay attention to how each carrier talks about them.
Look for companies that:
An answer does not have to be what you hoped to hear to be useful.
Sometimes an honest answer you dislike is more valuable than an attractive promise a carrier cannot keep.
Be cautious when a carrier:
Driver reviews can also help, but look for patterns rather than isolated comments. One angry review does not prove a company is bad. One glowing review does not prove it is great. Repeated comments about the same issue can be more useful.
Related: How to Research Trucking Companies — 7 Tips
A recruiting conversation should help both sides determine whether the job fits. Before you accept a dry van position, ask:
Pay attention to how the recruiter answers. Do you get specific numbers and examples? Does the recruiter explain the tradeoffs? Are they willing to tell you that part of the job may not fit your priorities?
You are evaluating the trucking company, too.
Related: 65 Key Questions All Truck Drivers Should Ask Recruiters Before Saying "Yes"
We wrote this article, so you should not simply take our word for where we belong.
Instead, you can evaluate ATS using the same factors we recommend using for every other carrier.
Pay is one measurable point of comparison.
In September 2026, ATS increased regional company-driver pay to $0.70 per mile for both van and flatbed drivers. Based on years of service, van drivers can earn up to $0.72 per mile.
But the highest advertised rate is not the most useful number by itself.
According to National Transportation Institute (NTI) dry van compensation data updated in June 2026, dry van OTR company drivers among carriers represented in its survey averaged $1,398 per week. Regional dry van company drivers averaged $1,257 per week.
ATS's 2026 averages were higher for the comparable ATS fleets:
| Dry Van Fleet | NTI Weekly Average | ATS 2026 Weekly Average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| OTR | $1,398 | $1,494.15 | 6.9% higher |
| Midwest Regional | $1,257 | $1,425.98 | 13.4% higher |
NTI figures represent averages for carriers included in its applicable dry van compensation surveys. ATS figures represent ATS's 2026 average weekly pay for the corresponding fleets.
These averages do not mean every ATS driver will earn those amounts. Your actual pay can vary based on your fleet, miles, freight, experience and time on the road.
Ask your recruiter what drivers in the exact position you are considering are currently averaging.
A strong pay rate only helps when there is freight to haul.
ATS works with established customers and freight relationships rather than building its company-driver opportunity around drivers competing for individual spot-market loads.
That can help support consistency. But you should still ask the same questions you would ask any carrier:
Where does the freight come from? How steady is it? What happens to driver miles when freight slows?
Reliable equipment affects comfort, productivity, and earning potential.
ATS operates newer, well-maintained equipment. Still, you should not accept "newer equipment" as the whole answer from ATS or another carrier.
Ask:
Home time is one area where your priorities matter a lot.
ATS has significant OTR dry van freight. OTR may appeal to drivers who want miles and earning potential, and are comfortable spending more time away from home.
ATS also offers regional and dedicated dry van opportunities. Depending on where you live and the positions available, some can provide more predictable or weekly home time.
The ATS pay figures above also show why there is no universal "best" fleet.
ATS OTR dry van company drivers averaged $1,494.15 per week in 2026. Midwest regional dry van company drivers averaged $1,425.98 per week.
That does not mean one fleet is better. The operating models and driver groups are not necessarily identical. Pay is also only one part of a driving job.
One driver may place more value on earning potential. Another may accept a different earning profile in exchange for more predictable home time.
If frequent home time is one of your highest priorities, ask about regional and dedicated jobs available where you live. Do not assume an OTR position will fit your schedule.
A good trucking job should not require everything to go perfectly for you to earn a living.
Drivers need more than a pay rate. They need miles, freight, working equipment and support when problems happen.
ATS's compensation data gives drivers one measurable point of comparison. Freight stability and equipment provide more context.
You should examine those same factors at every carrier you consider.
Almost every trucking company says it cares about its drivers.
Look for evidence.
When you speak with an ATS driver consultant, ask difficult questions. Explain what matters to you. Ask where ATS performs well. Also ask where the opportunity may not match your priorities. A useful recruiting conversation should not be about convincing you that ATS is perfect.
It should help you decide whether ATS can realistically provide the driving opportunities you want.
ATS may be worth considering if you are an experienced driver who values competitive earning potential, consistent freight, reliable equipment, and support from an established carrier.
The compensation data above provides one objective comparison point. ATS's 2026 average weekly pay exceeded the corresponding June 2026 NTI survey benchmark for both its OTR and Midwest regional dry van company fleets.
That does not automatically make ATS the right company for you.
If you need to be home every night, an OTR job is unlikely to fit your lifestyle.
If you live in the right hiring area and want more predictable home time, a regional or dedicated opportunity may fit better.
The same principle applies to every carrier in this guide.
Start with your priorities. Then compare the opportunities available to you.
There is no single dry van trucking company that is best for every driver.
The right company is one that performs well in the areas you care about and can give you credible information about what to expect. Before accepting your next dry van job:
A high-paying job may not be a good fit if you are never home when you need to be.
Great home time may not be enough if you cannot earn what your household requires.
And strong marketing does not tell you what your day-to-day job will actually look like.
The goal is not to find the company everyone else calls the best. It's to find the dry van job that fits you.
If ATS is one of the companies you are considering, talk with an ATS driver consultant about your experience, priorities, and goals.
Ask about the dry van opportunities available where you live. Compare OTR, regional, and dedicated options when available. Ask about current pay, average miles, freight, equipment, and realistic home time.
ATS will help you understand what you can expect so you can decide whether the opportunity fits your next move.
You can explore current ATS driving opportunities, learn more about ATS driver pay, review ATS equipment, or compare regional and dedicated dry van opportunities.
You can also use our guide to choosing a trucking company before making your decision.
Ready to learn more? Talk with an ATS driver consultant or complete an online application.