It’s not always easy to find a trucking carrier that meets all your unique needs. In fact, sometimes it can seem downright impossible.
You want to work for a top-paying carrier, but you also want to go home often. You want the respect and appreciation you deserve from a company that supports you — no matter what. You want quality equipment that just works. Sometimes it feels like there's not a carrier out there that can accommodate your needs.
But that carrier is out there for you. It just takes some research and comparing different carriers. In this article, we've done the research for you by listing the best trucking companies in the industry right now. You deserve to choose from the best of the best.
At Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) we specialize in over-the-road trucking — with opportunities for company drivers, lease drivers, and owner-operators. Though we’re confident in our services, we know you want to see all your options.
After reading this article, you’ll know exactly which carriers can accommodate your needs. The list includes:
- Schneider
- J.B. Hunt
- Melton Truck Lines
- Crete Carrier Corporation
- Prime, Inc.
- Bison Transport
- Halvor Lines
- Nussbaum Transportation
- Grand Island Express
- Garner Trucking, Inc.
The Best Trucking Driving Jobs This Year
Before we dive in, it's important to understand how we define "best." For the purpose of this article, best is based on seven different factors:
- Pay
- Home time
- Safety
- Retention
- Respect
- Diversity of options
- Equipment
The carriers on this list were chosen because they are among some of the carriers with the best safety records, highest pay, best home time, and a reputation of respect.
They also belong to accredited organizations like the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and the American Trucking Association (ATA).
Schneider
Founded: 1935
Headquarters: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Insight: Schneider places a big focus on safety — you can tell by the bright orange color of their fleet that was chosen for its high visibility on the road. Drivers receive ongoing safety training.
When it comes to the next generation of truck drivers, Schneider's got their back. They offer people looking to start a trucking career paid CDL training. You can go for CDL apprenticeship training, company-sponsored CDL training or get your tuition reimbursed.
Plus, the company is a top military-friendly employer and actively recruits veterans.
J.B. Hunt
Founded: 1961
Headquarters: Lowell, Arkansas
Insight: J.B. Hunt boasts a number of driving options, including intermodal, dedicated, truckload, less-than-truckload, flatbed, home delivery, temp-controlled and international. Drivers can find a job with J.B. Hunt across the country — which offers drivers both flexibility and plenty of home time.
J.B. Hunt follows strict hiring standards and drivers need to meet various background checks. Their commitment to safety extends as far as installing forward collision warning systems in nearly all of their trucks.
Related: Comparing ATS and J.B. Hunt
Melton Truck Lines
Founded: 1954
Headquarters: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Insight: Melton Truck Lines is one of the largest international flatbed carriers in North America and they’re one of the best flatbed carriers — especially for new drivers.
They take great pride in investing in their team. This investment shines through in their commitment to offering competitive pay, enticing benefits and even driver tuition reimbursement.
If you live in one of their specific hiring regions, Melton will sponsor you through trucking school, covering the entire cost of CDL training. This incredible opportunity enables drivers to kickstart their careers without the burden of student debt. Even if you're not in one of these sponsored areas, Melton still provides financial support through supplementary pay and other means.
In addition, they ensure that both experienced drivers and those new to the industry are well-compensated for their valuable contributions. This has boosted their retention rates.
Crete Carrier Corporation
Founded: 1966
Headquarters: Lincoln, Nebraska
Insight: Similar to ATS, Crete is a financially sound, family-owned company with no debt, ensuring stability. Crete Carrier Corporation boasts a comprehensive array of transportation services, encompassing dry van, temperature-controlled and flatbed shipping. In fact, Shaffer Trucking (a company Crete acquired) is considered one of the nation's premier providers of temp-controlled services.
Demonstrating a robust dedication to safety and sustainability, Crete Carrier provides competitive wages, attractive benefits and beneficial training programs. Their diverse options cater to drivers seeking daily home time or extended periods on the road. Furthermore, they operate various entities within the corporation, each dedicated to specific freight types.
There are options for both company drivers and owner-operators. They also have a driver mentor program, where new drivers can talk to experienced drivers about policies and driving techniques.
Related: Crete vs. ATS
Prime, Inc.
Founded: 1970
Headquarters: Springfield, Missouri
Insight: Prime as the nation's largest refrigerated carrier, stands as an excellent choice for employment during sluggish market conditions when freight rates may be less favorable. Thanks to their focus on transporting refrigerated goods, you can consistently count on a steady flow of freight, establishing them as a stable carrier.
Beyond their industry-leading size, Prime enjoys a stellar reputation for taking care of their drivers, earning them prestigious awards and a well-deserved spot in the TCA’s Hall of Fame for Best Fleets to Drive For.
Moreover, Prime offers a wealth of driving opportunities, allowing drivers the flexibility to explore various divisions within the company if they seek a change or want to advance their careers.
Bison Transport
Founded: 1969
Headquarters: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Insight: Bison Transport stands out as an accomplished Canadian transportation company, renowned for providing drivers with a strong sense of security and stability. Its remarkable retention rates speak for themselves — when a driver joins the Bison team, they often stay for the long haul. This loyalty can be attributed to the exceptional company culture, top-notch equipment, fantastic amenities and strong relationships fostered within the company.
With a sizable fleet, Bison is known for its unwavering commitment to safety. The company offers a diverse range of driving opportunities, whether you're a new driver looking to kickstart your career or an independent owner-operator seeking an excellent partnership.
Furthermore, Bison Transport goes the extra mile by tailoring its facilities to cater to women drivers, aiming to encourage and support greater female participation in the industry.
Halvor Lines
Founded: 1968
Headquarters: Superior, Wisconsin
Insight: Halvor Lines, a trucking company that remains proudly family-owned and operated, has garnered an outstanding reputation for its exceptional treatment of drivers, securing a coveted spot in the TCA 2023 Hall of Fame for Best Fleets to Drive For. Their commitment to driver welfare is evident, and they are equally generous when it comes to compensation.
In addition to their exceptional treatment and competitive pay, Halvor Lines presents drivers with diverse career opportunities. This versatile range of options offers an added layer of security even during market downturns.
Nussbaum Transportation
Founded: 1945
Headquarters: Hudson, Illinois
Insight: Nussbaum Transportation, an employee-owned company, stands as a recipient of numerous prestigious awards from the TCA. Their remarkable track record includes an impressive streak of earning the Best Fleets to Drive For award, an accomplishment that has secured their place in the esteemed hall of fame.
Attaining this honor involves a rigorous evaluation process, encompassing in-depth scrutiny of financial records, pay structures and turnover rates, along with interviews with drivers and employees, underscoring the company's commitment to excellence.
They’ve also received excellence and performance awards from various other companies, including Inbound Logistics, FourKites, Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine, SmartWay and Commercial Carrier Journal.
Grand Island Express
Founded: 1967
Headquarters: Grand Island, Nebraska
Insight: Grand Island Express is a smaller carrier (with 145 trucks on the road in 2023) founded in 1967 by the Pirnie family. It began as a moving and storage company. It wasn’t until 1972 that the company purchased its first refrigerated trailers. Now the company is owned and operated by third-generation family members and Grand Island Express is one of the most recognized refrigerated carriers.
Grand Island Express serves 38 states on the eastern side of the U.S. They focus not just on temperature-controlled transportation, but also irregular routes and time-sensitive loads.
The carrier works with company drivers, owner-operators, part-time drivers and students. There are options for regional routes and weekly home time or longer routes that keep drivers out for up to four weeks at a time.
They’ve been named one of the Best Fleets to Drive For by the TCA for 12 consecutive years and have one of the industry’s lowest turnover rates.
As a smaller carrier, Grand Island might not be a fit for everyone, but it’s a great carrier to drive for if it meets your requirements.
Garner Trucking, Inc.
Founded: 1960
Headquarters: Findlay, Ohio
Insight: Garner Trucking is a family-owned and operated dry truckload asset-based carrier. In addition to transportation services, they also offer warehousing, logistics management, third-party services and equipment repair.
Garner has options for company drivers — whether you’re a student or an experienced driver. They have an apprenticeship program available for drivers between 18 and 21. Drivers earn benefits on day one and receive a weekly pay minimum guarantee.
They’ve been named one of the Best Fleets to Drive For by the TCA since 2017 and in 2023, they entered the Best Fleets to Drive For Hall of Fame.
Choose the Best Trucking Job
Now that you’ve learned about the best carriers in the industry, what’s next for you? Only you can make the best decision for yourself.
If you're looking for a great trucking job, these companies are hiring and they're great in a variety of ways. But it’s up to you to continue your research.
Take the time to read reviews on third-party sites like Glassdoor and Google. Read what drivers are saying about their experience with that carrier. Ask them questions when you see them at the truck stops and make sure there’s alignment between what both driver recruiters and drivers are saying.
Bring a list of negotiables and nonnegotiables with you to every conversation and be honest about your expectations.
As a stable, family-owned and operated company, you won’t have to worry about your job or your paycheck as you advance in your career at ATS. We have a career path in place that'll help you go from hauling legal freight to over-dimensional, heavy freight if you choose. We also have a great dry van program if that's more your speed.
Take our job matcher quiz to find the best program for you at ATS.
If you're ready to learn more and talk to a recruiter, you can also fill out a quick app.
