Best Trucking Companies in North Carolina
9 top-ranked carriers hiring in North Carolina. Compare pay, hiring status, and find the right fit for your driving career.
North Carolina Trucking Market Overview
North Carolina is home to Old Dominion Freight Line, the nation's top-rated LTL carrier, making it ground zero for premium LTL driving careers. The Charlotte metro area is a major financial and distribution hub, while the Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham) drives biotech and tech logistics. I-85 and I-40 corridors carry heavy freight volume, and the state's growing population fuels constant demand for retail distribution and last-mile delivery.
Top 9 Companies in North Carolina
Old Dominion is headquartered in Thomasville, NC, and their home-state operations offer drivers the best LTL positions in the Southeast.
SEFL has strong North Carolina terminal coverage with reliable regional LTL routes and excellent company culture.
FedEx Freight's NC terminals serve the Research Triangle and Charlotte metro with priority and economy LTL positions.
Estes, headquartered in nearby Virginia, has extensive NC coverage with ESOP benefits and dock-to-driver opportunities.
Averitt's Southeast focus means NC drivers get strong regional coverage with a family-oriented company culture.
Schneider runs dedicated accounts for NC's growing automotive and biotech manufacturing sectors.
Saia's growing NC terminal network serves the state's fast-expanding logistics sector with competitive LTL positions.
Walmart operates multiple distribution centers in NC and their private fleet pays top-tier wages for experienced drivers.
Knight-Swift covers NC's I-85 and I-40 corridors with a wide range of OTR and regional positions.
How to read this page. The ranking is our own editorial assessment of how each carrier serves drivers in North Carolina, based on the lanes, terminals and freight described in each entry. The pay figure is not ours: heavy and tractor-trailer drivers in North Carolina earn an annual mean of $55,810 per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025). That covers employed company drivers statewide — not owner-operators, whom the survey excludes — and individual carriers pay above and below it. We publish no per-carrier salary because we have no source for one, and we do not track live vacancy counts: for what is open today, check the carrier's own careers page.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Trucking in North Carolina
What is the best trucking company to work for in North Carolina?
Based on our 2026 rankings, Old Dominion Freight Line ranks #1 in North Carolina. They earned the top spot because of what they run there: Old Dominion is headquartered in Thomasville, NC, and their home-state operations offer drivers the best LTL positions in the Southeast. We do not publish a pay figure per carrier — we have no source for one — so check the carrier's own posting for what the seat pays. The best choice for you depends on your experience level, preferred driving type, and home time needs.
How much do truck drivers make in North Carolina?
Heavy and tractor-trailer drivers in North Carolina earn an annual mean of $55,810, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025). That is the figure for employed company drivers across the whole state; owner-operators are not in it, because the survey covers employer payrolls only. Individual carriers pay above and below it, and specialised work — tanker, HazMat, oversize — pays more. The state's top industries — LTL Freight (ODFL HQ), Financial Services Logistics, Biotech & Pharma — shape which kinds of driving pay best.
Which trucking companies should I apply to in North Carolina?
Start with the carriers ranked on this page — Old Dominion Freight Line, Southeastern Freight Lines, FedEx Freight and the rest of the list all run real freight in North Carolina, and each entry says what it is best suited to. We do not track live vacancy counts for other carriers, so check the company's own careers page for what is open today. If you would rather one conversation than nine applications, send us your details and we will work the list with you.