After evaluating seven drayage companies in Arkansas, based on affordability, service speed, and customer satisfaction, Cal-Ark International, Inc. is our choice for the most reliable port-to-warehouse service.
Drayage Shipping Services & Transport in Arkansas
Why Trust FreightWaves Ratings?
There’s a reason we’re one of the world’s leading authorities on the global freight market. Our expert team has an in-depth understanding of the industry and is up-to-date on employment trends, regulations, and other insights into the trucking workforce.
We conduct thorough research and data analysis to develop our recommendations for the best trucking companies in Arkansas. Every Arkansas trucking firm is closely scrutinized based on its service range and capabilities. Our team also verifies companies’ safety records and regulatory compliance and looks at what real users have to say about their experience.
From there, we narrow our focus to select only those top-performing and highest-rated firms to give you an informed and up-to-date list of the best trucking companies in Arkansas for your commercial shipping needs.
Cal-Ark International, Inc.
12103 Interstate 30, Mablevale, AR, 72103- Fleet age: late models
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Beverages
- Building materials
- Chemicals
- Construction equipment
- General
- Machinery & large objects
- Metal materials
- Paper products
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Flatbed
- Box truck
- Conestoga
- Step deck
- Lowboy
- Pneumatic
- Sprinter van
- Last-mile delivery
- Cross-border
- Consolidation
- Alcohol-insured
- Drayage
- Cross-docking
- Hazardous materials
Cal-Ark International, Inc. (DOT: 546354) is a prominent trucking company serving Arkansas and beyond with a focus on interstate operations. Specializing in dry-van truckload services, Cal-Ark is known for efficiently transporting various cargo types, including beverages, building materials, chemicals, construction goods, machinery, metals, and paper products. The company provides a diverse fleet of 541 trucks and 1082 vehicles, offering services like flatbed, step deck, lowboy, and sprinter van transportation, ensuring versatility in handling shipments of all sizes and types.
Cal-Ark stands out with its commitment to safety, holding a “Satisfactory” safety rating, and offers an array of employee benefits, such as health insurance, paid CDL training, retirement plans, and more. Their logistics capabilities extend to cross-border and drayage services, making them an ideal choice for business owners seeking reliable and comprehensive shipping solutions, backed by robust carrier operations and a reputation for dependable service in commercial transportation.
Safety
- Crashes: 71
- Unsafe driving: 1.2
- Driver fitness: 0.05
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.13
- Vehicle maintenance: 2.52
- Controlled substances: 0.04
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 497
- Revenue: $983,000
- Miles driven: 5,505,652
D.B. Schenker
3200 Industrial Park Road, Van Buren, AR, 72956- Fleet size: 100+ Corp Only
- Insurance: $3,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Beverages
- Building materials
- Chemicals
- Dry bulk commodities
- Trash
- General
- Livestock feed
- Metal materials
- Paper products
Truck Types
- Container
- Last-mile delivery
- Cross-border
- Consolidation
- Drayage
- Cross-docking
- Hazardous materials
D.B. Schenker (DOT: 213754) is an interstate carrier established in 1980 with a robust trucking presence in Arkansas. The company operates an impressive fleet of over 6,100 trailers and 3,061 trucks, demonstrating a well-rounded capability in handling diverse types of cargo. Key cargo handled includes beverages, building materials, chemicals, dry bulk commodities, garbage, and metal sheets. Their logistics management ensures efficient transportation across vast distances.
D.B. Schenker is notable for providing specialized support for commercial shipments, particularly in hazardous materials and general freight. They excel in offering dedicated routes, cross-docking, and managed transportation. The company stands out with its strong commitment to safety, denoted by a satisfactory safety rating and active authority status. Business owners seeking reliable and comprehensive trucking services would find D.B. Schenker an excellent choice for their logistical needs.
Safety
- Crashes: 149
- Unsafe driving: 0.92
- Driver fitness: 0.06
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.16
- Vehicle maintenance: 4.02
- Controlled substances: 0.01
- Hazardous materials violations: 11
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 1899
- Revenue: $43,592,000
- Miles driven: 164,000,000
R L Smith Trucking, LLC
4301 West Barraque, Pine Bluff, AR, 71602- Fleet size: 1 to 10
- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Building materials
- Construction equipment
- Dry bulk commodities
- General
- Metal materials
- Paper products
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Container
- Power only
- Sprinter van
- Tanker
- Last-mile delivery
- Cross-border
- Drayage
- Cross-docking
- Hazardous materials
R L Smith Trucking, LLC (DOT: 258275) is a reputable trucking company founded in 1977 in Arkansas that offers a range of specialized services to ensure efficient freight transportation. Their fleet includes 18 trucks, with services extending to power-only, reefer, and flatbed operations. They efficiently handle cargo such as building materials, dry bulk commodities, construction materials, metal sheets, coils, rolls, general freight, and paper products. This ensures a broad and versatile approach to meeting client transport needs.
R L Smith Trucking provides special support for commercial shipments, including hazardous materials transportation and cross-docking solutions. Their emphasis on driver welfare and safety is evident through benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, and driver referral bonuses. With a satisfactory safety record and modern fleet, they are well-equipped for interstate operations and offer services like managed transportation to streamline shipping processes for businesses.
Safety
- Crashes: 2
- Unsafe driving: 3.59
- Driver fitness: 0.03
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.67
- Vehicle maintenance: 10.22
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 14
- Revenue: $783
- Miles driven: 1,438,857
George’s Farms, Inc.
402 West Robinson Ave, Springdale, AR, 72764- Fleet age: 5 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Unsatisfactory
Cargo Types
- General
- Livestock feed
- Livestock
- Meat
- Refrigerated food
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Flatbed
- Container
- Step deck
- Oversized
- Last-mile delivery
- Cross-border
- Consolidation
- Alcohol-insured
- Drayage
- Cross-docking
George’s Farms, Inc. (DOT: 333647) is an active trucking company operating primarily in Arkansas, specializing in general freight and livestock transportation. The company carries an array of cargo, including refrigerated foods and grain feed hay. Their services include cross-border transport and enablement of intricate logistics through cross-docking and dedicated step-deck solutions.
They support flexible commercial shipments with a focus on owner-operator and local driver opportunities. Offering competitive benefits like health, dental, and life insurance along with paid time off, George’s Farms, Inc. ensures strong workforce incentives. Although they have an unsatisfactory safety rating, they provide a reliable platform for specialized drivers, evidenced by their commitment to ongoing training and development programs. Despite a noteworthy safety concern due to past crash fatalities, they maintain competitive driver compensation ranging between $60,000 and $75,000 annually.
Safety
- Crashes: 2
- Unsafe driving: 0.42
- Driver fitness: 3.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
- Vehicle maintenance: 1.0
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 31
- Revenue: $12,317
- Miles driven: 461,204
Central Hauling Co
12103 Interstate 30, Little Rock, AR, 72209- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Beverages
- General
- Machinery & large objects
- Metal materials
- Paper products
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Flatbed
- Box truck
- Container
- Power only
- Sprinter van
- Dump trailer
- Last-mile delivery
- Lift-gate
- Cross-border
- Consolidation
- Drayage
- Hazardous materials
Central Hauling Co (DOT: 740036) is an active carrier based in Arkansas, boasting a fleet of 206 vehicles. With a satisfactory safety rating, they specialize in transporting beverages, general freight, machinery, and metal products. Central Hauling Co is equipped to handle hazardous materials, ensuring they can manage a wide array of cargo with safety and efficiency.
They provide specialized support for commercial shipments, including power-only and drayage services. Their capacity for cross-border freight is notable. Business owners benefit from flexible scheduling, paid time off, and other attractive employee benefits. For businesses needing assurance of timely shipments, the company offers guaranteed home time and employs a team of dedicated drivers for reliable service.
Safety
- Crashes: 14
- Unsafe driving: 3.22
- Driver fitness: 0.07
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.1
- Vehicle maintenance: 5.11
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 103
- Miles driven: 10,900,000
Glory Transportation, Inc.
6601 S Ball Street, Fayetteville, AR, 72704- Fleet size: 50+
- Fleet age: 5 years
- Insurance: $750,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Produce
- General
- Meat
- Refrigerated food
- Paper products
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Container
- Sprinter van
- Last-mile delivery
- Lift-gate
- Cross-border
- Drayage
Glory Transportation, Inc. (DOT: 224200) is a reputable trucking company established in 1997 in Arkansas. Specializing in over-the-road, refrigerated freight services, they handle cargo such as fresh produce, meat, general freight, and paper products. Their fleet consists of 40 trucks with modern reefer and dry van trailers, ensuring efficient transportation of temperature-sensitive and dry goods.
Glory Transportation provides commercial support with intermodal services, container shipments, and managed transportation solutions. They emphasize safety with a satisfactory safety rating and provide dedicated and partial services. With additional benefits like roadside assistance programs, rider allowances, and comprehensive health insurance packages, including dental coverage and a retirement plan, Glory Transportation stands out as a reliable partner for businesses seeking sophisticated logistics solutions.
Safety
- Crashes: 0
- Unsafe driving: 2.72
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.35
- Vehicle maintenance: 3.62
- Controlled substances: 0.5
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 19
- Revenue: $7,947
- Miles driven: 1,766,184
Oakley Trucking, Inc.
3400 Gribble Street, North Little Rock, AR, 72114- Fleet size: 20 to 49
- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $5,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Coal coke
- Dry bulk commodities
- Trash
- Livestock feed
- Metal materials
Truck Types
- Flatbed
- Hopper bottom
- Oversized
- Cross-border
- Drayage
- Hazardous materials
Oakley Trucking, Inc. (DOT: 3259) is a reputable trucking company founded in 1968, specializing in interstate operations. With a fleet size of 920 trucks, they focus on transporting a diverse range of cargo, including dry bulk commodities, coal, coke, grain, feed, hay, and metal sheets, coils, and rolls. Oakley Trucking is especially notable for offering services like flatbed and drayage, with a commitment to handling hazardous materials efficiently.
They provide valued support for commercial shipment through dedicated routes and hire hazmat-trained drivers. The company emphasizes safety, reflected in their satisfactory safety rating and ongoing training programs. Despite having had reported crash incidents, Oakley Trucking ensures competitive compensation packages, offering sign-on and safety bonuses, health insurance, and retirement plans to attract skilled drivers. Their commitment to flexibility and reliability makes them a preferred partner for businesses requiring specialized shipping solutions.
Safety
- Crashes: 55
- Unsafe driving: 1.45
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.08
- Vehicle maintenance: 3.14
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 15
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 920
- Revenue: $10,927,000
- Miles driven: 81,100,000
How Safety Ratings Work in Arkansas
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA’s) Compliance, Safety & Accountability (CSA) program evaluates trucking companies using BASICS (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories)
Here’s a look at what each of the BASICS cover:
- Crashes: Trucking companies are required to report any accidents that result in injury or death. The FMSCA uses these state-reported crashes to determine any patterns of crash involvement and potential behaviors contributing to that pattern.
- Unsafe driving: This CSA category covers behaviors like texting and speeding that can lead to accidents
- Driver fitness: The FMCSA requires trucking companies to keep up-to-date records on their drivers. That includes identification and paperwork like CDLs, annual driving reviews, and any relevant medical certifications or documentation. Violations of this category will result in lower overall safety scores.
- Hours-of-service compliance: The FMCSA cites truckers and trucking companies that do not follow or enforce hours-of-service regulations that limit how much time a large commercial vehicle operator can be on the road without rest.
- Vehicle maintenance: Truckers are responsible for completing inspections before hitting the road on a route. They must also log any issues and have repairs to those identified problems completed before operating the truck.
- Controlled substances: As with all vehicle operators, truckers must be sober behind the wheel. This category accounts for violations issued to a trucking company’s driver(s) for being under the influence of or in possession of alcohol and street drugs or prescriptionor over-the-counter medicines that could impair judgement.
- Hazardous materials violations: Trucking companies and their drivers must exhibit proper loading and handling of hazardous materials, including labeling these items correctly, ensuring packaging meets regulations, and follows all restrictions and rules for the vehicle type.
Companies scoring a zero for any or all of the above categories did not receive any citations or other violations within a given month. Essentially, any trucking company that has multiple zeroes in these categories can likely be considered a safe freight shipper in compliance with all FMCSA standards and regulatory requirement.
Choosing the Right Drayage Transport Company for Your Shipments in Arkansas
Here’s how to find dependable Drayage services for short-haul moves:
- Proximity to ports and rail yards: Select a Drayage provider close to key terminals in Arkansas to minimize transit times and costs.
- Importing/exporting experience: Arkansas carriers that specialize in Drayage understand how to navigate port processes and reduce potential delays.
- Fleet capacity and availability: A carrier with a sufficient fleet of well-maintained trucks will be better-eqipped to handle fluctuating shipment volumes.
- Real-time tracking: Opt for Arkansas Drayage companies with GPS and tracking tools for better visibility into shipment locations and statuses.
- Compliance and safety standards: Ensure the company meets all FMCSA safety and regulatory requirements for port-related trucking.
- Efficient communication: Reliable customer service is key, particularly for urgent deliveries or high-volume Drayage needs.
FAQs
What role does Drayage play in the shipping process for Arkansas businesses?
Drayage is a crucial part of the shipping process that involves short-distance transportation from ports or rail terminals to distribution centers. For Arkansas businesses, it acts as a vital link between large-scale transportation and local warehousing or distribution.
How does Drayage help streamline intermodal shipping?
Drayage is essential in intermodal shipping because it facilitates the transfer of goods between various transportation modes, such as rail to truck. It minimizes handling times, which in turn improves delivery efficiency and reduces overall shipping costs.
What types of goods are typically handled in Drayage shipping?
Drayage shipping typically handles containerized goods, including consumer products, machinery, electronics, and imported materials. These goods are transported from ports or rail hubs to warehouses or distribution points for further processing or delivery.
Other Types of Transport Options for Your Shipments
Depending on the types of products your business retails or manufactures, you may have several shipping options to choose from.
- Hopper Bottom Shipping Services
- Beverage Shipping Services
- Box Truck Shipping Services
- Dry Bulk Shipping Services
- Dry Van Shipping Services
- Flatbed Shipping Services
- Hot Shot Shipping Services
- Intermodal Shipping Services
- LTL Shipping Services
- Parcel Delivery Shipping Services
- Pneumatic Shipping Services
- Power-Only Shipping Services
- Reefer Shipping Services
- Tanker Shipping Services
