Ready to get started with a new employer or expand your trucking career? Learn the best OTR trucking companies to find employment where you will be compensated competitively, have options for when you work, etc.
Explore our list of the best employers for OTR trucking jobs, whether you’re just starting your career or looking to take the next step in it.
Quicklook: Best OTR trucking companies
- Best for pet-friendly policies: Roehl Transport
- Best for competitive pay and benefits: GP Transco – Match Now
- Best for long-term trucking employer: Nussbaum Transportation – Match Now
- Best for modern equipment: TMC Transportation – Match Now
- Best for new CDL drivers: Schneider – Match Now
- Best for paid CDL training: Maverick Transportation – Match Now
- Best for high compensation rates: ABF Freight – Match Now
7 best OTR trucking companies
Get insights into the best OTR trucking companies to work for with information on what drivers appreciate about their jobs and key company information.
Roehl Transport
No matter your experience level, you’ll want to pick a great over the road job with a solid company like Roehl. Roehl has outstanding reputation and it’s supported on rating sites like Glassdoor.com and Indeed.com. They uphold safety, honesty, and professionalism, and demonstrate how much they value their employees with an improved passenger program that includes a pet policy. The company appreciates that a pet companion can help offset the loneliness that’s considered a disadvantage of over the road truck driving jobs.
Best for: Pet-friendly policies
Established: 1962
Location: Marshfield, WI
Carrier type:
- Dry van
- Flatbed
- Specialized /over-dimensional
- Refrigerated and temperature-controlled
Services provided:
- Dedicated
- Nationwide coverage
- Curtainside
Indeed employee reviews: 3.2/5 stars with 880 reviews
GP Transco
GP Transco scores high for its pay and benefits. Plus, it has modern technology and was listed in the Chicago Tribune 2021 Top Workplaces. The company is also a fast-growing private company with a modern approach to work.
Best for: Competitive pay and benefits
Established: 2006
Location: Joliet, IL
Carrier type:
- Dry van
- Intermodal
- LTL
- Flatbed
- Temperature controlled
Services provided:
- Over the road
- Regional Midwest
- Drop trailer
- Dedicated freight
Indeed employee reviews: 3.9/5 stars with 68 reviews
Nussbaum Transportation
Nussbaum has an impressively low turnover rate at just 37% each year. Drivers enjoy working for Nussbaum and that shows in the longevity of the time they spend with the company. It scores high in employee reviews for pay and benefits, culture, and management.
Best for: Long-term trucking employer
Established: 1945
Location: Hudson, IL
Carrier type:
- LTL
- Truckload
Services provided:
- Round trip
- Multi-stop
- Point-to-point
- Drop and hook
Indeed employee reviews: 4.7/5 stars with 80 reviews
TMC Transportation
TMC Transportation has been awarded the third spot on Zippia’s Best Companies to Work for in Des Moines, Iowa. The company offers great job security and advancement opportunities. The company ensures it provides the best equipment for its drivers, which makes it an attractive employer.
Best for: Modern equipment
Established: 1972
Location: Des Moines, IA
Carrier type:
- 3PL
- LTL
- Intermodal
- Open deck
- Over-dimensional
- Reefer
- Specialized
- Van
Services provided:
- Linehaul
- Dedicated
- Specialized
Indeed employee reviews:: 3.5/5 stars with 512 reviews
Schneider
With more than 190 properties worldwide, Schneider is constantly seeking and hiring new drivers. And because of that, they are good at working with new CDL drivers. With so many locations, the company likely has a terminal near you so that you don’t have to relocate to work for Schneider.
Best for: New CDL drivers
Established: 1976
Location: Green Bay, WI
Carrier type:
- LTL
- Flatbed
- Truckload
- Refrigerated
Services provided:
- Real time shipment tracking
- Supply chain management
- Fleet management
Indeed employee reviews:: 3.4/5 stars with 3,600 reviews
Maverick Transportation
Maverick Transportation provides paid CDL training and outstanding pay and benefits once you earn your license. During training, the company even pays for housing and breakfast and lunch. Earn your license in about four weeks and begin your rewarding career at one of the best OTR trucking companies for new drivers.
Best for: Paid CDL training
Established: 1980
Location: North Little Rock, AR
Carrier type:
- Flatbed
- Dedicated
Services provided:
- Customer analytics
- Brokerage
- Marine
- Glass
Indeed employee reviews: 3.8/5 stars with 285 reviews
ABF Freight
ABF Freight is one of the best paying OTR trucking companies. It scores high on Indeed for pay and benefits. With service centers across the country, if you’re searching for trucking companies near me, you’ll find an ABF Freight service center.
Best for: High compensation
Established: 1923
Location: Fort Smith, AR
Employees: 1,000
Carrier type: LTL
Services provided:
- Time-critical deliveries
- Expedited shipping
- Final mile
- Intermodal
Revenue: $1.6 billion
Indeed employee reviews:: 3.5/5 stars with 516 reviews
What to consider in a potential OTR employer
Drivers have a lot to consider when evaluating potential employers for OTR) trucking jobs. Here are some of the key factors to assess:
- Pay and benefits: Compensation should be a top priority. Compare base salary, bonuses, benefits (health insurance, 401k, paid time off, etc.). Some companies offer very competitive packages while others lag behind industry standards.
- Equipment and maintenance: Modern, comfortable trucks with the latest amenities make life better on the road. Also consider the carrier’s truck maintenance programs and replacement schedules. Newer fleets signal better equipment.
- Freight and lanes: The routes, customers, and types of freight you haul impact earning potential as well as quality of life. Dry van vs refrigerated freight also impacts operations. Analyze lane maps and client lists.
- Home time: For OTR drivers, the amount of home time available between runs is invaluable. Typical schedules offer between one to two days at home per week, but this varies widely across carriers.
- Company stability: Carriers with decades in business and solid financials are generally the most stable. This translates to steady freight volumes and reliable paychecks. Avoid shaky companies.
It also helps greatly to talk directly with current drivers at carriers you’re considering. Online driver reviews can provide additional insights on company cultures, management, dispatch, and other key factors that influence job satisfaction. Taking the time to thoroughly evaluate multiple aspects of each carrier will help drivers select the best OTR trucking job.
Advancing your trucking career with an OTR job
OTR trucking is a great opportunity for drivers. It offers various jobs for when you’re just starting your career or when you are ready to advance your career with new opportunities. Review the options for the best OTR companies to work for on your way to a rewarding career.
FAQ
Yes, over-the-road truckers make about 20% more per year than the average truck driver does.
Over-the-road (OTR) truck drivers typically average between 2,000 to 3,000 miles per week. The exact weekly mileage can vary significantly depending on factors such as the routes assigned, the type of cargo being transported, and any delays encountered on the road.
OTR drivers are generally gone for three to four weeks at a time, but some trucking companies advertise that their OTR drivers are home each week.
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