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10 Best Trucking Companies in Virginia

Valerie Smith, Shipping Expert

After analyzing pricing, services, and consumer ratings, we picked James River Carriers, LLC as the best Virginia trucking company for commerce shipments.

Depending on the size of your business and specific shipping needs, you may want to consider James River Carriers, LLC or one of the other top trucking companies on our list.

Why Trust FreightWaves?

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 Virginia. Every Virginia 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 Virginia for your commercial shipping needs.

James River Carriers, LLC

2227 Station Rd, Richmond, VA, 23234
  • Fleet age: 5 years
  • Insurance: $1,000,000

Cargo Types

  • Building materials
  • Chemicals
  • Construction equipment
  • Dry bulk commodities
  • Produce
  • General
  • Liquids & gases
  • Lumber
  • Meat
  • Metal materials
  • Refrigerated food
  • Paper products

Truck Types

  • Dry van
  • Reefer
  • Flatbed

James River Carriers, LLC (DOT: 3113083) is a dynamic transportation company founded in 2023 with a strong foundation in Virginia. Leveraging a fleet of 129 trucks and 258 trailers, they cater to diverse shipping needs, handling a wide range of cargo such as building materials, chemicals, fresh produce, general freight, liquids/gases, and refrigerated foods. Their specialty lies in offering regional and over-the-road services with a focus on flatbed and dry van transportation.

Renowned for their professionalism, James River Carriers, LLC ensures their commercial clients benefit from comprehensive insurance options and employee benefits like health, dental, vision, and life insurance. They also provide paid time off and retirement plans. Additionally, their less-than-truckload (LTL) and full truckload (FTL) services meet varied commercial demands, ensuring dependable shipments. With a commitment to safety and efficiency, they are a top choice for businesses seeking reliable logistics solutions.

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Safety

  • Crashes: 11
  • Unsafe driving: 0.83
  • Driver fitness: 0.03
  • Hours-of-service compliance: 0.32
  • Vehicle maintenance: 2.5
  • Controlled substances: 0.0
  • Hazardous materials violations: 0

More Info

  • Routes: interstate
  • Drivers: 112
  • Miles driven: 18,600,000

BEE Line Transport, Inc.

155 Airpark Dr, Lynchburg, VA, 24502
  • Fleet age: 5 years
  • Insurance: $1,000,000
  • Safety rating: Satisfactory

Cargo Types

  • Construction equipment
  • Farm supplies
  • General
  • Machinery & large objects
  • Vehicles

Truck Types

  • Dry van
  • Reefer
  • Flatbed

BEE Line Transport, Inc. (DOT: 762801) is a Virginia-based trucking company with an active USDOT status. With a fleet consisting of 21 trucks and 42 trailers, they are capable of hauling various types of cargo, including Agricultural/Farm Supplies, Construction materials, General Freight, Machinery, and Motor Vehicles. They also provide specialized Drive/Tow away services. The company stands out due to its relatively new fleet, averaging just five years old, ensuring reliability and efficiency in transport.

BEE Line Transport offers several benefits to its employees, such as dental, life, and vision insurance, paid time off, and a retirement plan (401k). Additionally, they provide direct deposit options to facilitate timely payments. Despite their modest total driver count of 15, they maintain a satisfactory safety rating and emphasize driver fitness and vehicle maintenance. Licensed to operate interstate, BEE Line Transport is ready to handle your commercial shipping needs with professionalism and care.

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Safety

  • Crashes: 4
  • Unsafe driving: 0.0
  • Driver fitness: 0.0
  • Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
  • Vehicle maintenance: 0.0
  • Controlled substances: 0.0
  • Hazardous materials violations: 0

More Info

  • Routes: interstate
  • Drivers: 15
  • Revenue: $695,000
  • Miles driven: 785,000

Augustus Trucking, Inc.

814 Victoria Boulevard, Hampton, VA, 23661
  • Fleet age: 3 years
  • Insurance: $1,000,000

Cargo Types

  • Beverages
  • Dry bulk commodities
  • Produce
  • General
  • Meat
  • Metal materials
  • Refrigerated food
  • Paper products

Truck Types

  • Dry van
  • Reefer
  • Flatbed
  • Last-mile delivery

Augustus Trucking, Inc. (DOT: 1583548) is an active freight trucking company based in Virginia with a commendable track record. They focus on carrying a wide range of cargo including beverages, commodities dry bulk, fresh produce, general freight, meat, metal sheets, paper products, refrigerated food, and US mail. Established for over 17 years, the company operates with a single truck and employs one interstate driver, showcasing their dedication to specialized and reliable service despite their small size.

Augustus Trucking, Inc. provides essential services like last-mile delivery, flatbed shipping, and dry van. They offer full truckload (FTL) and partial truckload (LTL) options to accommodate various shipping needs. They prioritize driver welfare with benefits such as health, dental, vision, and life insurance, along with disability insurance and a 401k retirement plan, which underscores their commitment to attracting and retaining professional drivers. Their reputation is further bolstered by favorable ratings on Yelp (4.0), Glassdoor (4.0), and Google (4.5).

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Safety

  • Crashes: 0
  • Unsafe driving: 0.0
  • Driver fitness: 0.0
  • Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
  • Vehicle maintenance: 0.0
  • Controlled substances: 0.0
  • Hazardous materials violations: 0

More Info

  • Routes: interstate
  • Drivers: 1
  • Miles driven: 63,632

S.V. Trucking Services

2100 56 Th Sreet, Hampton, VA, 23661
  • Fleet age: 3 years
  • Insurance: $750,000

Cargo Types

  • Building materials
  • Produce
  • General
  • Livestock feed
  • Intermodal containers
  • Lumber
  • Machinery & large objects
  • Meat
  • Metal materials
  • Refrigerated food
  • Paper products

Truck Types

  • Dry van
  • Reefer
  • Flatbed
  • Last-mile delivery

S.V. Trucking Services (DOT: 1324293) is a reputable trucking company in Virginia with a solid track record. With a fleet of two trucks and four trailers, they have specialized services including refrigerated transport, intermodal containers, and flatbed operations. Their cargo capabilities cover a range of goods such as building materials, fresh produce, general freight, machinery, meat, metal sheets, and paper products.

S.V. Trucking Services offers valuable support for commercial shipments with services such as less-than-truckload (LTL) and partial truckload freight options. They also provide various employee benefits like dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with direct deposit and paid time off for their drivers. The company is noted for guaranteed home time, ongoing training development programs, and deadhead and layover compensations, ensuring both reliable service and driver satisfaction.

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Safety

  • Crashes: 0
  • Unsafe driving: 0.0
  • Driver fitness: 0.0
  • Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
  • Vehicle maintenance: 2.4
  • Controlled substances: 0.0
  • Hazardous materials violations: 0

More Info

  • Routes: intrastate non-hazardous
  • Drivers: 2
  • Miles driven: 100,000

Shoreland Transport Usa, Inc.

2000 Northgate Commerce Pkwy, Suffolk, VA, 23435
  • Fleet age: 5 years
  • Insurance: $750,000
  • Safety rating: Satisfactory

Cargo Types

  • Produce
  • General
  • Intermodal containers
  • Refrigerated food

Truck Types

  • Dry van
  • Reefer
  • Flatbed
  • Box truck
  • Tanker
  • Last-mile delivery
  • Cross-border

Shoreland Transport Usa, Inc. (DOT: 3383069) is an active trucking company with a robust presence in Virginia’s transportation sector. Although the exact year it was established is not provided, the company has grown to manage a fleet of 43 trucks and employs 43 drivers. Shoreland specializes in carrying a variety of cargo, including fresh produce, general freight, intermodal containers, and refrigerated foods, offering both full and partial truckload services. Their focus on dry vans and flatbeds enables them to cater to diverse shipping needs.

Shoreland Transport offers notable support for commercial shipments, featuring guaranteed home time, health and vision insurance, dental insurance, and paid time off for their drivers. They also provide retirement plans, sign-on bonuses, flexible scheduling options, and cross-border services. Their satisfactory safety rating and commendable insurance coverage contribute to their reputation as a reliable and resourceful partner for business owners looking to ship products efficiently.

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Safety

  • Crashes: 3
  • Unsafe driving: 1.96
  • Driver fitness: 0.35
  • Hours-of-service compliance: 0.32
  • Vehicle maintenance: 2.62
  • Controlled substances: 0.11
  • Hazardous materials violations: 0

More Info

  • Routes: interstate
  • Drivers: 43
  • Miles driven: 2,221,042

Amory Transportation, LLC

802 Jefferson Ave, Newport News, VA, 23607
  • Fleet size: 1 to 10
  • Fleet age: 3 years
  • Insurance: $750,000

Cargo Types

  • General

Truck Types

  • Dry van
  • Reefer

Amory Transportation, LLC (DOT: 1648804) is a reliable trucking company based in Virginia. With a fleet encompassing 17 trucks and 34 trailers, it efficiently handles general freight and other cargo types. Amory Transportation stands out for its focus on dry van and reefer (refrigerated) services, catering effectively to various commercial shipment needs.

The company supports its drivers with noteworthy benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance. Amory Transportation also offers paid time off and a solid retirement plan (401k), demonstrating their commitment to driver welfare. Despite a brief operational history, they maintain an active status and a moderate safety record, ensuring dependable and quality transportation services for business owners.

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Safety

  • Crashes: 1
  • Unsafe driving: 3.05
  • Driver fitness: 0.35
  • Hours-of-service compliance: 4.78
  • Vehicle maintenance: 4.6
  • Controlled substances: 0.0
  • Hazardous materials violations: 0

More Info

  • Routes: interstate
  • Drivers: 15
  • Revenue: $553,000
  • Miles driven: 775,050

Estes Dedicated

1501 N Hamilton St, Richmond, VA, 23230
  • Fleet age: 3 years
  • Insurance: $1,000,000

Cargo Types

  • Building materials
  • General
  • Lumber
  • Machinery & large objects
  • Metal materials
  • Paper products

Truck Types

  • Dry van
  • Reefer
  • Last-mile delivery

Estes Dedicated (DOT: 3330935) is a reputable trucking company based in Virginia with a fleet of 535 trucks and 1070 trailers. Established to provide top-notch transportation services, the company is known for handling a diverse range of cargo, including building materials, general freight, logs, poles, beams, lumber, machinery, large objects, metal sheets, coils, rolls, and paper products. Their extensive services include dedicated routes, partial and full truckload options, ensuring flexibility and reliability for businesses with various shipping needs.

Estes Dedicated places a strong emphasis on driver support and safety, offering benefits such as dental, life, disability, and vision insurance, paid time off, direct deposit, and health screenings. They also provide sign-on and safety bonuses, guaranteed home time, and ongoing training programs. With a 4.0 BBB rating and a commitment to maintaining a modern fleet with an average age of three years, Estes Dedicated ensures excellent service and safety for their clients’ commercial shipping requirements.

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Safety

  • Crashes: 35
  • Unsafe driving: 2.31
  • Driver fitness: 0.13
  • Hours-of-service compliance: 0.02
  • Vehicle maintenance: 5.21
  • Controlled substances: 0.03
  • Hazardous materials violations: 1

More Info

  • Routes: interstate
  • Drivers: 430
  • Revenue: $1,639,000
  • Miles driven: 19,000,000

EMM Transportation, Inc.

3035 Bells Road, Richmond, VA, 23234
  • Fleet size: 50+
  • Fleet age: 5 years
  • Insurance: $750,000

Cargo Types

  • General
  • Intermodal containers
  • Lumber

Truck Types

  • Dry van
  • Reefer
  • Flatbed
  • Tanker
  • Last-mile delivery

EMM Transportation, Inc. (DOT: 744765) is a venerable freight trucking company established in 1885 in Virginia. With a fleet size of over 50 vehicles, they specialize in carrying general freight, intermodal containers, logs, poles, beams, lumber, and other types of cargo. They offer services such as reefer transport, flatbed trucking, and dry van trucking, meeting diverse transportation needs efficiently.

EMM Transportation provides substantial support for commercial shipments, including guaranteed home time for drivers and comprehensive service for both full truckload and less-than-truckload shipments. Additional perks for employees include health, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, and a retirement 401k plan. With a commitment to safety and an emphasis on quality service, EMM Transportation is a reliable choice for business owners looking to ship their products securely and promptly.

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Safety

  • Crashes: 2
  • Unsafe driving: 0.0
  • Driver fitness: 0.0
  • Hours-of-service compliance: 0.64
  • Vehicle maintenance: 12.89
  • Controlled substances: 0.0
  • Hazardous materials violations: 0

More Info

  • Routes: interstate
  • Drivers: 22
  • Revenue: $29,674,000
  • Miles driven: 833,070

True Mover, LLC

11786 Indian Ridge Rd, Reston, VA, 20191
  • Fleet age: 2 years
  • Insurance: $750,000


Truck Types

  • Dry van
  • Reefer
  • Flatbed
  • Box truck
  • Last-mile delivery

True Mover, LLC (DOT: 2862283) is a Virginia-based trucking company with an active USDOT status and a reputation for excellence, highlighted by a solid 4.0 Yelp rating. Specializing in the transportation of household goods, they also provide last-mile delivery services and have the capacity to handle dry van and reefer shipments.

In addition to offering partial truckload (LTL) services, True Mover also emphasizes driver well-being with health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as life insurance and paid time off. They maintain a fleet of five trucks and are committed to safety and reliability, evidenced by their notable zero crash injury record. Their proactive support for commercial shipments includes flexible driver options such as team driving and local, regional, and over-the-road (OTR) drivers, ensuring tailored solutions for diverse shipping needs.

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Safety

  • Crashes: 0
  • Unsafe driving: 0.69
  • Driver fitness: 0.33
  • Hours-of-service compliance: 4.66
  • Vehicle maintenance: 6.0
  • Controlled substances: 0.0
  • Hazardous materials violations: 0

More Info

  • Routes: interstate
  • Drivers: 5
  • Miles driven: 50,000

Hawkins-Graves, Inc.

13432 Wards Road, Lynchburg, VA, 24501
  • Fleet age: 5 years
  • Insurance: $1,000,000


Truck Types

  • Dry van
  • Flatbed
  • Last-mile delivery

Hawkins-Graves, Inc. (DOT: 1747552) is a reputable trucking company operating in Virginia. They maintain a relatively small yet efficient fleet of 10 trucks, primarily focusing on full truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) services. Their specialization in flatbed and dry van transportation makes them well-suited for carrying a variety of general freight and other cargo types, ensuring versatile shipping options for business owners seeking reliable transportation solutions.

In addition to their core transportation services, Hawkins-Graves offers substantial commercial support, including comprehensive health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance plans for their employees. The company also values driver welfare, providing paid time off and a solid retirement plan (401k). Despite their modest size, Hawkins-Graves boasts commendable safety records and maintains active status with the U.S. Department of Transportation, underlining their commitment to dependability and quality service.

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Safety

  • Crashes: 1
  • Unsafe driving: 2.14
  • Driver fitness: 0.0
  • Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
  • Vehicle maintenance: 0.4
  • Controlled substances: 0.0
  • Hazardous materials violations: 0

More Info

  • Routes: interstate
  • Drivers: 2
  • Miles driven: 96,687

How Safety Ratings Work in Virginia

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:

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 Virginia Trucking Company for Your Shipments

Whether you operate an e-commerce platform, local business, or regional chain in Virginia, 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 Virginia 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: Virginia Trucking Companies

Which is the most frequently used mode of transportation for distributing products in Virginia?

Trucking, in general, is the most frequently used mode of transportation for distributing products in Virginia. 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 Virginia?

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 Virginia?

While trucking is the most widely used commercial shipping method in Virginia 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.


Valerie Smith
Valerie Smith has been creating content for and about supply chain logistics companies since 2010. Writing on behalf of globally recognized industry leaders, her work has been featured extensively in print and digital publications and at speaking engagements. As editorial director of FreightWaves Ratings, she focuses on exploring topics that help readers make more informed career and business decisions.