When it comes to moving loose bulk commodities like grain or gravel, Hopper Bottom trucking companies are the go-to solution. We evaluated Hopper Bottom providers in Arkansas for price, safety, and customer service, among other factors, and Silica Transport, Inc. earned the top spot due to their reliability and quality service.
Check out our other picks for the best Hopper Bottom trucking companies in Arkansas to see which one is the right fit for you.
Top Hopper Bottom Trucking Companies 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 companiesin Arkansas for your commercial shipping needs.
Silica Transport, Inc.
232 West Market Street, Guion, AR, 72540- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $5,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Building materials
- Dry bulk commodities
- General
- Liquids & gases
- Lumber
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Flatbed
- Conestoga
- Container
- Hopper bottom
- Power only
- Tanker
- Hot shot
- Last-mile delivery
- Cross-border
- Alcohol-insured
Silica Transport, Inc. (DOT: 11284) is a reputable freight trucking company renowned for its comprehensive services and long history of operation in Arkansas. They offer a wide array of services, including general freight, dedicated routes, and managed transportation. Their capability extends to transporting building materials, dry bulk commodities, and lumber, making them a versatile choice for various shipping needs.
Silica Transport provides specialized commercial shipment support such as drop trailer services, dry van, flatbed, and tanker transportation. With a workforce of 40 interstate drivers and a fleet of 30 trucks, they emphasize driver and cargo safety, reflected in their satisfactory safety rating and a focus on ongoing training development programs. Business owners seeking reliable shipping services will benefit from their dedicated and dependable logistics support.
Safety
- Crashes: 4
- Unsafe driving: 2.16
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.07
- Vehicle maintenance: 1.77
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 3
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 40
- Revenue: $604
- Miles driven: 1,905,159
Timmons Transit, Inc.
3116 Nestle Rd, Jonesboro, AR, 72401- Fleet size: 20 to 49
- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Beverages
- Building materials
- General
- Livestock feed
- Metal materials
- Paper products
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Container
- Hopper bottom
- Lowboy
- Power only
- B-train semi
- Last-mile delivery
- Cross-border
- Consolidation
- Hazardous materials
Timmons Transit, Inc. (DOT: 906107) is a reliable freight trucking company operating in Arkansas. They specialize in general freight, including cargo such as beverages, building materials, grain feed hay, and paper products. Established many years ago, Timmons Transit offers a range of services featuring reefer, dry van, flatbed, hopper bottom, lowboy, and container transportation. They handle both interstate and cross-border operations, ensuring comprehensive coverage for their clients.
Timmons Transit provides special support for commercial shipments, including hazardous materials transport. The company also supports owner-operators and offers guaranteed home time, dedicated routes, and team drivers services. Their commitment to driver welfare is evident through perks like sign-on bonuses, per diem payments, paid CDL training, and health insurance. With a total fleet size of 324 trucks and a satisfactory safety rating, Timmons Transit is well-equipped to meet the needs of businesses looking for reliable and versatile transportation solutions.
Safety
- Crashes: 13
- Unsafe driving: 1.07
- Driver fitness: 0.03
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.21
- Vehicle maintenance: 5.05
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 182
- Revenue: $5,514
- Miles driven: 13,400,000
Distribution Solutions, Inc.
805 Cottonwood Rd #4, Harrison, AR, 72601- Fleet size: 50+
- Fleet age: 4 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Dry bulk commodities
- General
- Meat
- Metal materials
- Refrigerated food
- Paper products
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Hopper bottom
- Sprinter van
- Last-mile delivery
- Cross-border
- Consolidation
- Alcohol-insured
- Cross-docking
Distribution Solutions, Inc. (DOT: 777764) has been a key player in the Arkansas trucking industry since 1997. They offer a diverse range of trucking services, including specialized flatbed, hopper bottom, and reefer transportation. Their fleet of over 284 trucks and 142 total drivers are committed to delivering high-quality service, supporting a variety of cargo such as dry bulk commodities, general freight, meat, metal sheets, coils, rolls, paper products, and refrigerated food. The company’s substantial interstate operation is bolstered by their advanced vehicle maintenance and fleet management practices, ensuring reliability and efficiency.
Distribution Solutions, Inc. is dedicated to providing commercial shipment support with services like cross-docking, consolidation, and drop trailer options. They prioritize safety and driver well-being, offering numerous benefits including health, dental, and life insurance, paid CDL training, ongoing training development programs, and a retirement plan. Business owners will also appreciate their guaranteed home time, safety and driver referral bonuses, and flexible scheduling mechanisms that enhance driver satisfaction and retention.
Safety
- Crashes: 8
- Unsafe driving: 1.78
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.12
- Vehicle maintenance: 2.08
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 142
- Revenue: $4,132
- Miles driven: 13,900,000
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 noteworthy trucking company established in 1968 and based in Arkansas. They possess a robust fleet of 920 trucks and cater to a wide range of transportation needs, including hauling coal, coke, dry bulk commodities, grains, garbage, refuse, grain feed hay, and metal sheets, coils, and rolls. They offer specialized driving services and owner-operator opportunities, making them adaptable to various shipment requirements.
For businesses requiring specialized support, Oakley Trucking provides dedicated routes, hazardous materials transportation, and cross-border services. The company also boasts additional benefits such as sign-on bonuses, direct deposit, health and life insurance, retirement plans, and ongoing driver training programs. Their commitment to safety is underscored by their ‘Satisfactory’ safety rating, and they emphasize driver welfare with perks like guaranteed home time and deadhead detention/layover compensation.
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) 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 Arkansas Hopper Bottom Trucking Company for Your Shipments
If your Arkansas businesses transports bulk commodities like grain, gravel, or other loose materials, finding the right Hopper Bottom trucking company is key to efficient and secure shipping.
Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for a Hopper Bottom carrier:
- Trailer capacity and configuration: Make sure the carrier offers Hopper Bottom trailers with the right capacity and features for your products.
- Efficient unloading: Hopper Bottom trailers enable easy unloading, so look for Arkansas carriers with well-maintained equipment to avoid delays.
- Environmental compliance: Choose a carrier in Arkansas that is committed to environmentally responsible practices, particularly since Hopper Bottom cargo can produce dust or debris.
- Driver experience: Experienced drivers who understand the handling of bulk materials will help ensure your load is transported safely and in a timely manner.
- Geographic coverage: You’ll want a trucking company with expertise in your key shipping regions.
- Communication: Arkansas trucking companies with reputations for quality customer support are more likely to keep you up-to-date on your shipments, particularly those that are time-sensitive. You’ll also want to choose a Hopper Bottom carrier that offers real-time shipment tracking.
- Transparent pricing: Look for a Hopper Bottom company with a straightforward pricing structure without hidden fees.
- Safety compliance: A strong safety record indicates a carrier’s commitment to maintaining high standards for both equipment and driver safety during transit.
FAQs: Arkansas Hopper Bottom Trucking Companies
What are the benefits of using Hopper Bottom trailers for bulk transportation?
The benefits of Hopper Bottom trailers for transport of bulk items include convenient unloading. Hopper Bottom trailers are designed to use gravity for unloading. This reduces handling time and product damage.
How do Hopper Bottom trailers help Arkansas save money on bulk transportation?
Hopper Bottom trailers help Arkansas businesses in Arkansas save money by reducing unloading costs. Hopper Bottom trailers use gravity-fed systems, which reduces manual labor and unloading time. Lower operational costs, in turn, lead to lower customer prices, especially for high-volume shipments in industries like agriculture and construction.
Are there weight limitations for Hopper Bottom trucking in Arkansas?
Yes, there are weight limitations for Arkansas Hopper Bottom trucking. Trailers must adhere to federal and state weight restrictions to ensure safe transportation. Check with their carrier to confirm load capacity and regulatory compliance.
