If you're comparing full truckload (FTL) carriers based on earning potential, Crete Carrier/Shaffer Trucking, Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), Barr-Nunn Transportation, K&B Transportation, and E.W. Wylie stand out heading into 2027.
Experienced company drivers at these carriers can approach or exceed $100,000 per year. Actual earnings depend on freight type, experience, time on the road, and individual performance.
Key Takeaways
- Crete Carrier/Shaffer Trucking ranks first for overall FTL earning potential among experienced OTR drivers, with its top 50% averaging more than $107,000 per year
- ATS offers drivers a path to higher earnings through flatbed, oversize, and heavy haul freight, with top-half earnings exceeding $100,000 in some advanced fleets
- Barr-Nunn is a strong option for drivers who want competitive dry van pay without moving into specialized freight
- K&B Transportation offers a $1,886 weekly minimum guarantee through its Road Warrior program
- E.W. Wylie combines competitive open-deck pay with specialized freight opportunities and a strong benefits package
- The highest-paying opportunities often require more experience, specialized skills, or additional time away from home
Highest-Paying FTL Trucking Companies at a Glance
| Rank | Trucking Company | Representative Earning Potential | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crete Carrier / Shaffer Trucking | Top 50% of OTR drivers average $107,000+ per year | Experienced OTR drivers |
| 2 | Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) | Top-half OTR van drivers earn $1,550+ per week; advanced heavy haul can exceed $100,000 annually | Drivers interested in specialized growth/advancement |
| 3 | Barr-Nunn Transportation | Top 50% of solo company drivers averaged $97,500 in 2025 | Dry van drivers |
| 4 | K&B Transportation | $1,886 weekly minimum guarantee on Road Warrior; top yearly pay around $110,000 | High-mileage OTR drivers |
| 5 | E.W. Wylie | Approximately $1,504-$2,030 per week; top annual earnings up to $120,000 | Open-deck drivers |
How Did We Rank the Highest-Paying Trucking Companies?
For this ranking, we focused specifically on for-hire full truckload carriers.
Full truckload, or FTL, freight generally involves moving a truckload shipment for one customer. For this comparison, FTL includes dry van, refrigerated, flatbed/open-deck, and specialized freight.
We excluded less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers, parcel fleets, and private fleets. We also excluded owner-operator gross revenue to give you a more apples-to-apples comparison.
The rankings use current published pay information. However, advertised earning potential is not the same as guaranteed driver income. Freight type, experience, miles, time on the road, and individual performance can all affect actual earnings.
1. Crete Carrier / Shaffer Trucking — Best Overall FTL Pay for Experienced OTR Drivers
Earning potential: The top 50% of OTR drivers average more than $107,000 per year.
How Much Do Crete Carrier and Shaffer Trucking Drivers Make?
Crete Carrier and its refrigerated sister fleet, Shaffer Trucking, take the top position because they combine high earnings with unusually good pay transparency.
Current Crete compensation data reports that the top 50% of Crete and Shaffer over-the-road (OTR) drivers average more than $107,000 annually. Starting OTR pay is roughly $0.68-$0.73 per mile.
The company also pays drivers based on practical miles. Crete says this results in 3%-5% more paid miles than short-route mileage.
Quarterly safety and productivity bonuses, accessorial pay, guaranteed detention pay, vacation pay, profit sharing, and benefits can add to the overall compensation package.
Why Does Crete Rank First?
Crete combines high earnings with detailed information about how drivers are paid.
Rather than relying only on maximum earning potential, the company publishes an average for its top 50% of OTR drivers. That makes its pay easier to compare with other FTL carriers.
What Should Drivers Consider?
The highest-paying national OTR opportunities require substantial time away from home. Crete lists its National OTR dry van fleet at 21 days out with 3.5 days of home time. Drivers generally need at least one year of verifiable tractor-trailer experience.
2. Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) — Best FTL Path for Specialized Earning Potential
Earning potential: Top-half OTR van drivers earn $1,550+ per week. Top-half flatbed drivers earn approximately $1,700-$2,000+ per week, depending on freight class. Advanced heavy haul earnings can exceed $100,000 annually.
How Much Do ATS Truck Drivers Make?
ATS driver earnings vary based on the type and complexity of freight.
The top 50% of OTR van company drivers gross $1,550+ per week.
For flatbed company drivers, top-half weekly earnings range from approximately $1,700 to $2,000+, depending on freight class. The top 20% earn approximately $2,400 to $2,800+ per week.
Earning potential increases further for drivers handling highly specialized freight.
| ATS Driving Opportunity | Earnings |
|---|---|
| OTR van — top 50% | $1,550+ per week |
| Flatbed — top 50% | Approximately $1,700-$2,000+ per week |
| Flatbed — top 20% | Approximately $2,400-$2,800+ per week |
| 7-axle heavy haul — top 50% | Approximately $95,200+ annually |
| Multi-axle — top 50% | Approximately $98,300+ annually |
| Schnabel — top 50% | Approximately $109,400+ annually |
| Schnabel — top 20% | Approximately $145,500+ annually |
Why Does ATS Rank Second?
ATS doesn't beat Crete on ordinary dry van earnings. Its advantage is the opportunity for drivers to advance into more specialized, higher-paying freight.
A driver can move from van into flatbed and increasingly complex over-dimensional freight. Experienced drivers may eventually advance into heavy haul. This means drivers can increase their earning potential by developing specialized skills rather than relying solely on additional miles.
What Should Drivers Consider?
The highest-paying ATS opportunities are not entry-level jobs.
ATS requires at least six months of recent OTR experience to join the company. Heavy haul positions require at least six years of verifiable OTR experience and two years of over-dimensional experience.
More specialized freight also brings greater responsibility. Drivers may perform additional securement work and spend more time away from home.
Learn more about ATS driver pay.
3. Barr-Nunn Transportation — Strongest Dry Van Alternative
Earning potential: The top 50% of solo company drivers averaged $97,500 in 2025.
How Much Do Barr-Nunn Drivers Make?
Barr-Nunn reports that its top 50% of solo company drivers averaged $97,500 in 2025.
That makes Barr-Nunn particularly relevant for drivers who want high truckload pay without moving into flatbed or heavy haul.
The company specializes in dry van truckload freight and offers regional, weekend, and OTR options.
Barr-Nunn's compensation information also lists practical mile pay, quarterly Safety/CSA bonus opportunities, detention pay after one hour, paid time off, and a 401(k) match. The company also offers newer equipment and describes its freight as 100% no-touch.
Why Does Barr-Nunn Rank Third?
Barr-Nunn publishes a meaningful actual-driver benchmark rather than relying primarily on maximum advertised earnings.
Its compensation gives experienced drivers an opportunity to earn competitive truckload pay while staying in dry van freight.
What Should Drivers Consider?
Team driver earnings should not be confused with solo compensation.
Barr-Nunn reports that the top 50% of its team drivers averaged $121,822 per driver in 2025. However, team driving is a fundamentally different lifestyle and should be evaluated separately from solo OTR work.
4. K&B Transportation — Best Guaranteed Pay for High-Mileage OTR
Earning potential: K&B offers a $1,886-per-week minimum guarantee through its Road Warrior program, with top yearly pay around $110,000.
How Much Do K&B Transportation Drivers Make?
K&B's Road Warrior program combines a high starting mileage rate with a strong weekly minimum.
Current recruiting materials list $0.82 per mile in starting pay and a $1,886 weekly minimum guarantee. Top weeks are around $2,350, while top yearly gross pay is around $110,000.
The $1,886 weekly minimum works out to roughly $98,000 per year for drivers who consistently meet the program’s guarantee requirements.
Why Does K&B Rank Fourth?
The weekly guarantee helps reduce some of the week-to-week income volatility that normally comes with mileage-based pay.
That makes K&B particularly relevant for high-mileage OTR drivers who value a predictable minimum while remaining eligible for higher earnings.
What Should Drivers Consider?
The trade-off is lifestyle.
K&B's highest-paying Road Warrior program is designed for drivers willing to stay on the road for extended periods. Home time stretches occur between longer runs.
Drivers should confirm the conditions they must meet to qualify for the weekly guarantee before comparing it with another carrier's average earnings.
5. E.W. Wylie — Strong Open-Deck Pay and Benefits
Earning potential: Current OTR open-deck recruiting lists approximately $1,504-$2,030 per week, with top annual earnings up to $120,000.
How Much Do E.W. Wylie Drivers Make?
E.W. Wylie's open-deck program combines competitive weekly earnings with specialized freight.
Current recruiting materials list base pay around $0.60-$0.69 per mile and approximately 2,500-3,000 miles per week. Drivers can also earn a 4-cent-per-mile monthly safe-driver bonus.
Current listings describe average weekly earnings of approximately $1,504-$2,030, though the company's advertised $120,000 figure represents top earning potential rather than a fleetwide average.
Why Does E.W. Wylie Rank Fifth?
In addition to its open-deck earning potential, Wylie offers a valuable benefits package.
The company advertises a 100% company-paid medical premium option, 401(k), tarp pay, paid holidays, and referral incentives. Drivers also receive late-model equipment with auxiliary power units (APUs), inverters, and refrigerators.
What Should Drivers Consider?
Open-deck work comes with physical and technical responsibilities that dry van drivers don't typically face.
Drivers may need flatbed experience or broader OTR experience. Securing, tarping, and handling specialized freight are also part of the compensation equation.
Two FTL Carriers That Just Missed the Top Five
Nussbaum Transportation
Nussbaum is an extremely competitive option.
Nussbaum reports first-year earnings of approximately $80,000-$93,000. Established-driver earnings are around $90,000-$95,000+, while the top 30% average $100,000.
Top earners can reach approximately $110,000-$120,000.
Nussbaum also offers practical mile pay, paid empty miles, activity pay, and a weekly guarantee. Weekly home time is available across much of its primary hiring area.
TMC Transportation
TMC says its drivers are on track to average nearly $87,000 in 2026. Many high-performing drivers are expected to exceed $100,000.
TMC's current driver pay information lists weekly earnings of roughly $1,470-$1,850. The top 25% can earn as much as $2,400 per week.
TMC's percentage-pay system and strong weekly home time make it particularly attractive for flatbed drivers. However, its representative fleetwide earnings fall below the carriers ranked above.
Frequently Asked Questions About High-Paying Trucking Companies
What trucking companies pay drivers $100,000 or more per year?
Several FTL carriers in this comparison offer earning potential around or above $100,000 for experienced or high-performing drivers. Crete reports that its top 50% of OTR drivers average more than $107,000 annually. Certain specialized ATS drivers can also exceed $100,000, while K&B and E.W. Wylie advertise top annual earnings above that level.
Actual earnings depend on the position, freight type, experience, and individual performance.
Can a company truck driver make $100,000 per year?
Yes. Published compensation from several carriers in this ranking shows that experienced company drivers can reach or exceed $100,000 annually.
However, $100,000 should not be treated as a guaranteed salary. The highest earnings may depend on experience, specialized freight, performance, mileage, or additional time on the road.
What type of trucking pays the most?
There is no single freight type that always pays the most. This comparison shows strong earning potential in dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, open-deck, and specialized trucking.
At ATS, earning potential generally increases as drivers advance from conventional truckload freight into flatbed, oversize, and heavy haul work. Those opportunities also require more experience, responsibility, and specialized skills.
Do flatbed drivers make more than dry van drivers?
They can. At ATS for example, top-half OTR van drivers gross $1,550+ per week. Top-half flatbed drivers earn approximately $1,700-$2,000+ per week depending on freight class.
Compensation varies by carrier and position. Flatbed work also comes with additional responsibilities, including load securement.
How much can an ATS truck driver make?
ATS earnings depend on the type of freight a driver handles.
The top 50% of ATS OTR van company drivers gross $1,550+ per week. Top-half flatbed earnings range from approximately $1,700-$2,000+ per week depending on freight class.
In specialized trucking, top-half Schnabel drivers earn approximately $109,400+ annually. The top 20% earn approximately $145,500+.
Does cents-per-mile pay determine which trucking company pays the most?
Not by itself.
Mileage rates are only one part of driver compensation. Practical mile calculations, bonuses, detention pay, accessorial pay, weekly guarantees, freight availability, and other compensation can affect what a driver actually earns.
Drivers should compare representative annual or weekly earnings along with the underlying pay structure.
What should drivers compare when choosing a high-paying trucking job?
Pay is important, but earning potential should be considered alongside the requirements of the job.
Drivers should look at the type of freight, experience requirements, time away from home, and how compensation is calculated. They should also consider whether advertised earnings represent an average, a top-performer figure, or a guaranteed minimum.
Ready to See Where Driving with ATS Can Take You?
High earning potential is only one part of choosing the right trucking company. At ATS, experienced drivers can build their skills, take on more specialized freight, and increase their earning potential along the way.
If you're ready to see which ATS driving opportunities fit your experience and goals, explore open company driver opportunities and find your next move.