After analyzing pricing, services, and consumer ratings, we picked LXP Transportation, LLC as the best South Carolina trucking company for commerce shipments.
Top Shipping Services & Transport in South Carolina
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 South Carolina. Every South Carolina 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 South Carolina for your commercial shipping needs.
LXP Transportation, LLC
2908 Otranto Rd Lot 12, North Charleston, SC, 29406- Fleet age: 5 years
- Insurance: $750,000
Cargo Types
- Beverages
- Building materials
- Chemicals
- Construction equipment
- Produce
- General
- Intermodal containers
- Liquids & gases
- Lumber
- Machinery & large objects
- Meat
- Metal materials
- Refrigerated food
- Paper products
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Flatbed
- Last-mile delivery
LXP Transportation, LLC (DOT: 3076605) is a versatile trucking company based in South Carolina, established in 2018. They offer a wide range of services, specializing in full truckload and partial truckload shipments. LXP handles a diverse array of cargo, including beverages, building materials, chemicals, construction goods, and fresh produce, demonstrating significant adaptability to various freight needs.
The company has an active interstate operation with a focus on general freight, intermodal containers, and refrigerated foods. While relatively new, LXP Transportation maintains a positive reputation with high ratings on platforms like Indeed. Despite its small fleet and limited driver pool, the company emphasizes customer service and reliability, supported by health insurance benefits and paid time off for employees. They are fully registered and insured, ensuring peace of mind for businesses seeking trusted logistics partners.
Safety
- Crashes: 0
- Unsafe driving: 0.0
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 2.1
- Vehicle maintenance: 1.8
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 4
- Revenue: $515,000
- Miles driven: 150
Smith Dray Line
320 Park Commerce Road, Greenville, SC, 29611- Fleet size: 50+
- Fleet age: 5 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Tanker
- Last-mile delivery
- Cross-border
- Drayage
- Hazardous materials
Smith Dray Line (DOT: 122024) is a distinguished trucking company that has been operating since 1911 in South Carolina. The company possesses a fleet of over 50 trucks, including refrigerated trailers and tankers, reflecting its capacity to handle varied shipments such as household goods. With a stellar Google rating of 4.5 and a firm commitment to safety, Smith Dray Line emphasizes dependable service and client satisfaction.
Smith Dray Line provides specialized support for commercial shipments, including hazardous materials transportation, regional deliveries, and cross-border services. Their offerings include both full and partial truckloads, as well as less-than-truckload options, catering to diverse shipping needs. The company’s satisfactory safety rating alongside comprehensive employee benefits underscores their dedication to both safety and staff well-being, positioning them as a reliable partner for business owners seeking efficient freight solutions.
Safety
- Crashes: 0
- Unsafe driving: 0.57
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.14
- Vehicle maintenance: 4.75
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 59
- Revenue: $5,557,000
- Miles driven: 104,038
Gulf Line Transport, LLC
950 Houston Northcutt BLVD, Mount Pleasant, SC, 29464- Fleet age: 5 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Chemicals
- General
- Intermodal containers
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Box truck
- Last-mile delivery
Gulf Line Transport, LLC (DOT: 577203) is a South Carolina-based trucking company known for its diverse range of freight services tailored to business needs. Specializing in interstate operations, the company expertly handles chemicals, general freight, and intermodal containers, utilizing a fleet of flatbeds and dry vans. Their service portfolio includes full and partial truckload options, ensuring flexibility for various cargo requirements.
With a commitment to safety and employee well-being, Gulf Line Transport offers a satisfactory safety rating, health insurance, and a retirement plan. Their focus on regional operations ensures reliable and consistent service, making them a dependable partner for business owners. With a relatively young fleet and an emphasis on general freight, the company supports a wide array of commercial shipments, catering to specific logistics needs with guaranteed home time for drivers and flexible scheduling options.
Safety
- Crashes: 3
- Unsafe driving: 0.23
- Driver fitness: 0.16
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.31
- Vehicle maintenance: 4.13
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 29
- Revenue: $6,461,000
- Miles driven: 1,860,135
Fast Freight Systems, Inc.
950 Houston Northcutt BLVD Suite 100, Mount Pleasant, SC, 29464- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Chemicals
- General
- Intermodal containers
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
Fast Freight Systems, Inc. (DOT: 897765) is an active and reputable trucking company operating out of South Carolina, specializing in freight transport across state lines. They maintain a fleet of 68 trucks and have a satisfactory safety rating. Established over 24 years ago, Fast Freight Systems distinguishes itself by providing both full truckload (FTL) services and less-than-truckload (LTL) for general freight and intermodal containers. Their focus on safety is evidenced by their low unsafe driving and maintenance scores.
Fast Freight Systems handles a variety of cargo, including chemicals and general freight, making them a versatile choice for shippers. They boast benefits like health, dental, and vision insurance for their drivers, enhancing workforce satisfaction. The company does not offer dedicated routes, but their regional operation ensures coverage across different areas. With a strong online presence and positive ratings on platforms like Google and Glassdoor, Fast Freight Systems positions itself as a reliable partner for business owners seeking efficient transportation solutions.
Safety
- Crashes: 6
- Unsafe driving: 1.47
- Driver fitness: 0.16
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.31
- Vehicle maintenance: 8.5
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 68
- Revenue: $5,384,000
- Miles driven: 3,450,869
Prime Time Logistics, LLC
2819 Industrial Ave, North Charleston, SC, 29405- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
Cargo Types
- Beverages
- General
- Intermodal containers
- Paper products
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Tanker
Prime Time Logistics, LLC (DOT: 3114604) is an emerging trucking company that has operated since 2018 in South Carolina. The company specializes in general freight, including beverages, intermodal containers, US mail, paper products, and other freight types. They provide services such as full truckload, partial truckload, dry van, reefer, flatbed, and tanker transport, offering flexibility in the kinds of shipments they can handle.
Prime Time Logistics distinguishes itself with interstate carrier operations and prioritizes truck safety, reporting zero injuries or fatalities. They offer life and health insurance, including dental, vision, and disability coverage, to support their drivers. The company maintains an active status with a relatively young fleet and focuses on providing reliable logistics solutions to meet various shipping needs.
Safety
- Crashes: 1
- Unsafe driving: 0.0
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.33
- Vehicle maintenance: 0.0
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 3
- Revenue: $510,000
- Miles driven: 2,030
Carolina National Transportation, LLC
950 Houston Northcutt BLVD Suite 100, Mount Pleasant, SC, 29464- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Building materials
- General
- Intermodal containers
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Last-mile delivery
Carolina National Transportation, LLC (DOT: 659150) is a South Carolina-based trucking company distinguished by its robust operations handling general freight, building materials, and intermodal containers. Operating a fleet of approximately 185 trucks, the company specializes in full truckload, partial truckload, dry van, and flatbed services, ensuring a wide spectrum of transport solutions. Established with a focus on customer satisfaction, Carolina National Transportation maintains an active status with the USDOT.
Known for its effective logistics capabilities, Carolina National Transportation supports commercial shipments with flexible scheduling, guaranteed home time, and ongoing training programs for its drivers. With innovative parcel solutions, the company meets diverse cargo needs while maintaining a satisfactory safety rating. Offering competitive salary packages ranging from $50,000 to $60,000, they also provide comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, ensuring strong employee benefits and support.
Safety
- Crashes: 11
- Unsafe driving: 2.28
- Driver fitness: 0.01
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.5
- Vehicle maintenance: 5.75
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 185
- Revenue: $5,384,000
- Miles driven: 9,559,578
Team Logistics Co, LLC
22 South Main Street, Greenville, SC, 29601- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $5,000,000
Cargo Types
- Building materials
- General
- Liquids & gases
- Refrigerated food
- Paper products
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Flatbed
Team Logistics Co, LLC (DOT: 3075435) is an active logistics and transportation carrier operating across interstate routes. Team Logistics offers full and less-than-truckload services, carrying diverse cargo such as building materials, general freight, liquids, gases, paper products, and refrigerated foods. Their fleet consists of 64 trucks and 128 trailers, including dry vans and flatbeds, supporting a wide range of shipping needs with a focus on general freight.
Special support for commercial shipments includes comprehensive employee benefits such as health, dental, life, and vision insurance, along with retirement plans through a 401(k) program. With a total of 100 drivers experienced in trucking, Team Logistics emphasizes safety and reliability while being prepared to handle a variety of customer shipping requirements. Despite having reported crash incidents, they maintain particiaption in industry best practices, providing a blend of responsive service and standard compliance to meet business needs.
Safety
- Crashes: 11
- Unsafe driving: 1.85
- Driver fitness: 0.09
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.12
- Vehicle maintenance: 2.01
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 11
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 100
- Miles driven: 7,303,137
UST Select, Inc.
556 Perry Ave Suite B 106, Greenville, SC, 29611- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $750,000
Cargo Types
- Construction equipment
- General
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Last-mile delivery
UST Select, Inc. (DOT: 3299508) is a South Carolina-based trucking company recognized for its focus on delivering comprehensive logistics solutions. With a fleet size of 764 vehicles and 382 trucks, they specialize in flatbed and dry van transportation, ensuring efficient movement of general freight and construction materials. UST Select, Inc. prides itself on team driver services, guaranteeing reliable and on-time deliveries with their extensive 15,200,000 annual mileage.
The company offers a range of support services, notably full and partial truckload shipping, complemented by advanced logistics capabilities such as last-mile delivery. Their commitment to employee welfare is evident through benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance, alongside a robust 401(k) retirement plan. UST Select, Inc. stands out for its emphasis on safety and quality service, making it an excellent choice for businesses seeking dependable transportation partners.
Safety
- Crashes: 20
- Unsafe driving: 0.32
- Driver fitness: 0.2
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
- Vehicle maintenance: 2.2
- Controlled substances: 0.01
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 680
- Miles driven: 15,200,000
Double B Trucking Company, Inc.
326 Deming Way, Summerville, SC, 29483- Fleet size: 1 to 10
- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Dry bulk commodities
- General
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Tanker
Double B Trucking Company, Inc. (DOT: 542057) is a reputable trucking service provider based in South Carolina, noted for their flexibility in handling dry bulk commodities and general freight. Their operation specializes in a range of services including full truckload (FTL), less than truckload (LTL), and refrigerated cargo, with a niche focus on tanker and dry van transportation. The firm prides itself on a satisfactory safety rating, which underscores their commitment to maintaining high safety standards in logistical operations.
Double B Trucking ensures a consistent and professional service with a small yet capable fleet of 5 trucks, each operated by skilled drivers for interstate commerce. Despite their relatively modest size, they offer various employee benefits such as health, dental, and vision insurance, along with a 401(k) retirement plan. With favorable ratings on platforms like Indeed, they highlight a supportive work environment backed by reliable customer service, making them a solid choice for businesses seeking steady shipping solutions.
Safety
- Crashes: 1
- Unsafe driving: 7.31
- Driver fitness: 0.2
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.12
- Vehicle maintenance: 5.2
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 5
- Revenue: $598,000
- Miles driven: 224,321
Champion Coach, Inc.
145 Ben Hamby Lane, Greenville, SC, 29615- Fleet size: 50+
- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $5,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Flatbed
Champion Coach, Inc. (DOT: 774431) has been an active carrier in the transportation industry since 1998, based in South Carolina. The company specializes in full truckload (FTL) services, catering primarily to passengers. Their fleet consists of 43 buses and a combination of 86 vehicles, including flatbeds and dry vans, emphasizing their versatility in transporting various goods.
Champion Coach prides itself on offering satisfactory safety practices, as evidenced by its satisfactory safety rating. While they do not cater to hazardous materials or offer refrigerated services, their FTL drivers are skilled at ensuring timely and efficient deliveries. The company supports its workforce with benefits like health, dental, vision, and disability insurance, alongside a retirement 401(k) plan, showcasing their commitment to employee well-being and satisfaction.
Safety
- Crashes: 1
- Unsafe driving: 0.0
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
- Vehicle maintenance: 0.13
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 68
- Revenue: $3,494,000
- Miles driven: 1,578,917
How Safety Ratings Work in South Carolina
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 South Carolina Trucking Company for Your Shipments
Whether you operate an e-commerce platform, local business, or regional chain in South Carolina, there are a few key factors to consider when looking for the best trucking company:
- Shipment volume and frequency: The total dimensional weight of your shipment can impact the company you choose, since some companies have minimum project size requirements. If your shipping order is on the smaller size, look for a company without any size restrictions that also offers a variety of options, including LTL and partial truckload shipping. Similarly, you’ll want to look for companies that will fit your anticipated ongoing volume. You may also want to consider companies that provide some surge capacity to accommodate unexpected growth.
- Shipping destinations: If possible, try to determine how often you’ll need shipping for what distances. Knowing where in the U.S. you ship to most frequently — or if you need nationwide shipping — will help you select a carrier that provides the regions and haul distances you need.
- Services: Consider looking for a trucking company in South Carolina with specialized support for businesses — like logistics and supply chain management and warehousing and distribution — as well as online shipment tracking or other helpful technological tools and resources.
- Safety: While we verify that each trucking company we recommend has a DOT number and follows Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) safety standards, you may want to further consider the average fleet age and years of driver experience, ongoing training programs, and other steps a company takes to ensure your shipment will be delivered efficiently and without incident.
FAQs
Which is the most frequently used mode of transportation for distributing products in South Carolina?
Trucking, in general, is the most frequently used mode of transportation for distributing products in South Carolina. In fact, nationwide, trucks transport more goods domestically than all other modes of commercial transportation combined. One reason for the popularity is affordability — road transport is typically the most cost-efficient shipping method. And a variety of vehicle options — like flatbeds, dry vans, and refrigerated trucks — makes it easier to move a variety of products.
What products are best transported by truck in South Carolina?
The products that are best transported by truck in the U.S. include commodities like:
- Building materials
- Food and beverages
- Furniture
- Clothing
- Electronics
What is the disadvantage of transporting goods by truck in South Carolina?
While trucking is the most widely used commercial shipping method in South Carolina and nationally, there are some minor disadvantages to consider, including weight and size restrictions and delays caused by inclement weather or traffic. Using a truck for your commercial shipments can also be expensive for longer-distance deliveries. And trucks require loading, unloading, and reloading of goods, which can add more time to and logistical management of your shipment.
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
- Drayage 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