Best Trucking Companies in Washington, DC That Pay the Most (2025)

If you’re chasing pay that truly moves the needle and want a clear picture of the top trucking companies Washington DC drivers look at first, this guide stacks up the real-world pay structures, bonuses, home time, and work types across DC-area options. Whether you prefer LTL linehaul, foodservice delivery, OTR dry van, or flatbed, you’ll find who tends to pay most—and why. And yes, we’ll put a flag in the ground up front: HMD Trucking is #1 in overall pay potential and driver-friendly structure for DC-based OTR drivers.

You’ll also see tables and simple pros/cons so you can compare your trucking jobs options at a glance. This is built to help you win better Washington DC trucking jobs without the guesswork.

Why HMD Trucking ranks #1 for DC drivers

HMD Trucking combines strong base CPM with performance bonuses, paid empty miles, modern equipment, and transparent pay pages you can verify. For DC drivers, HMD advertises 60 CPM for OTR dry van with about $1,600 weekly potential, and 65 CPM for flatbed with about $1,725 weekly potential; home every 2–4 weeks, with additional safety/productivity incentives. 

What that means in real-life math

• Dry van $1,600/week ≈ ~$83,000/year before extra bonuses.
  
• Flatbed $1,725/week ≈ ~$90,000/year before extra bonuses.
  

HMD also publicly lists extras like paid empty miles and detention, sign-on for flatbed, clean inspection bonuses, and referrals—items that quietly add real dollars to a driver’s freight paycheck over a year. (For general HMD pay elements like paid empty miles, detention, and sign-on, see their pay details page.) 

Bottom line: If you want the best trucking earnings with predictable OTR lanes and a simple CPM + bonus structure, HMD is the starting line—and for many, the finish line here https://www.hmdtrucking.com/truck-driving-jobs/washington-dc/.

The highest-paying DC options at a glance

Pay varies by seniority, shift, lane, union scale, overtime, and bid location. These ranges reflect typical outcomes drivers report publicly or that companies advertise; your mileage—literally—will vary.

Table 1 — Quick pay snapshot (DC & regional availability)

What each company is best for (with pros & cons)

1) HMD Trucking — 

#1 overall for DC OTR pay + driver-friendly structure

Best for: OTR drivers who want simple CPM + bonus pay that actually scales, fresh equipment, and 24/7 dispatch support.

Pros

• Clear, published pay for DC (60 CPM dry van; 65 CPM flatbed), with weekly earning targets you can plan around.
  
• Extras that matter to truck drivers (paid empty miles, detention, inspection bonuses, referral).
  
• Modern tractors and consistent lanes; strong back-office logistics support.
  
  Cons
  
• OTR home time cycle (2–4 weeks) isn’t for everyone.
  
• Flatbed adds physical work (securement/tarping).
  

2) Walmart Private Fleet — 

Top private fleet money

Best for: Clean MVR, top safety, and customer service—ready for Fortune-1 standards.

Pros

• First-year earnings up to $110,000; stable freight and strong benefits.
  
• Highly professional fleet culture and equipment.
  
  Cons
  
• Limited domiciles; hiring bar is high and competition is heavy.
  
• Schedules can be regimented; flexibility varies by region.
  

3) UPS (Feeder) — 

Union scale + OT = big checks

Best for: Night owl carriers/haulers who want long-term union security and can work bids.

Pros

• Four-year progression to top hourly rate per the 2023 UPS-Teamsters contract; total compensation (wages + pension + healthcare) is industry-leading.
  
• Plenty of OT during peak; strong retirement/pension contributions.
  
  Cons
  
• Seniority rules your life; expect nights/weekends at first.
  
• DC metro traffic + tight hubs can be stressful.
  

4) Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) — 

Premium LTL, premium consistency

Best for: Experienced LTL delivery/P&D or linehaul drivers who want club-level operations.

Pros

• Linehaul hourly ranges commonly posted in the high-$20s to upper-$30s per hour; strong total comp.
  
• System known for safety, equipment, and on-time shipping performance.
  
  Cons
  
• Bids and seniority decide start times and runs; regional availability shifts by terminal.
  
• Physical P&D days if you’re not in linehaul. (VA pay figures help gauge regional reality.)
  

5) FedEx Freight — 

City drivers with steady hours / linehaul with miles

Best for: LTL structure with large network and predictable work.

Pros

• City driver published averages around the upper-$20s to low-$30s/hr range; linehaul often higher.
  
• Big network = steady transportation demand.
  
  Cons
  
• Terminal culture varies; shift assignments depend on seniority and business needs.
  

6) Sysco — 

Home-daily checks that rival OTR

Best for: CDL-A drivers who can handle touch-freight (delivery of foodservice) and want to sleep in their own bed.

Pros

• DC-area drivers average about $95,573 per year per Indeed data.
  
• Lots of OT and incentive pay; strong benefits typical of national foodservice carriers.
  
  Cons
  
• It’s a workout—ramps, hand trucks, stairs, tight alleys.
  
• Early starts; customer-facing.
  

7) Estes Express Lines — 

High OTR potential + LTL scale

Best for: Drivers who like mixing linehaul and OTR with a big, stable LTL.

Pros

• OTR drivers reported around $90k on national averages.
  
• OT options and a wide terminal map.
  
  Cons
  
• Schedule and shifts driven by bids; equipment and culture vary by terminal.
  

8) Saia LTL Freight — 

Competitive LTL wages with performance culture

Best for: LTL pros who like fast-paced, results-oriented ops.

Pros

• Median salaries in the $70k+ range; top earners can approach or exceed $100k.
  
• Growth-minded network = more lanes and stability.
  
  Cons
  
• Tight productivity expectations; shift availability varies by DC-area terminals.
  

9) XPO — 

Solid weekly pay and national footprint

Best for: Local/daycab LTL or regional runs with weekly pay clarity.

Pros

• U.S. truck driver weekly pay averages around $1,845 (~$95k/yr).
  
• Variety of roles (local, regional, shuttle/linehaul).
  
  Cons
  
• Terminal-by-terminal culture and schedules vary; some overtime rules differ by location.
  

10) ABF Freight — 

Union backbone and benefits

Best for: Drivers who want union protection, benefits, and seniority-based bidding.

Pros

• Truck driver roles around $72k, long-haul postings around $89k nationally.
  
• Pension + healthcare and clear progression norms.
  
  Cons
  
• Seniority determines preferred runs; availability fluctuates by region.
  

Table 2 — Who really pays the most

Different lanes pay differently. Use this to match your preference to the money.

How to choose the best trucking jobs DC has right now

1. Pick the pay model that fits your life.
   
   • CPM + bonuses (OTR): HMD’s DC postings show exactly what miles and bonuses can do for your check; if you enjoy long-haul rhythm and want a simple formula, this is hard to beat.
     
   • Hourly + OT (LTL/City): If you prefer predictable days and union-style stability, UPS/ODFL/FedEx Freight/XPO/ABF can be your home base.
     
   • Hourly + incentive (Foodservice): Sysco proves home-daily can still pay top-tier in DC—if you can handle the physical side.
     
2. Look beyond base pay.
   
   Add-ons like paid empty miles, detention, extra stops, safety bonuses, union pension, and healthcare swing total comp by five figures. HMD’s pay pages spell out the extras; union contracts do the same for UPS feeders.
   
3. Aim your endorsements at the money.
   
   HazMat, Doubles/Triples, tanker, or TWIC can unlock higher-pay lanes (e.g., LTL linehaul with doubles). If you want the highest paying trucking companies DC drivers talk about, stack endorsements to win more bids.
   
4. Home time vs. take-home.
   
   Home-daily roles (city P&D, foodservice delivery) trade some peak earnings for steadiness; OTR and night linehaul often squeeze out bigger annual totals. Be honest about the lifestyle you want.
   
5. Ask the right questions in recruiting.
   
   • For OTR: “What are average weekly miles? How are empty miles paid? How is detention handled?” (HMD publishes that.)
     
   • For LTL: “What’s the bid process? Typical start times? OT rules? How long to reach top scale?” (UPS progression is codified.)
     
   • For foodservice: “Average stops per day? Helpers? OT after 8 or after 40? Average weight per hand-bomb?” (Sysco’s DC pay shows the upside.)
     

DC driver FAQ: who pays most in each lane?

• Overall OTR paycheck potential: HMD Trucking (#1). CPM + safety/productivity bonuses + paid empty miles and flatbed premiums give DC drivers a clean path to high 80s/low 90s—and higher with strong months.
  
• Private fleet pinnacle: Walmart (when available/nearby domiciles). First-year “up to $110k” is documented.
  
• Union long-game with OT: UPS Feeder. Four-year progression to top rate, then OT can push totals well into six figures.
  
• Best LTL consistency mix: ODFL / FedEx Freight / Saia / Estes / ABF / XPO—your terminal’s bids will drive the exact check, but hourly ranges and linehaul premiums make these trucking companies perennial top earners in metro markets.
  

Final word

For Washington DC drivers who want to pay most with a transparent, repeatable structure, HMD Trucking stands out as #1—especially if you want OTR CPM pay that scales with miles and performance. LTL giants like UPS and ODFL, plus foodservice leaders like Sysco, can also put you into six-figure territory when you optimize shifts, endorsements, and OT. With the right match, DC trucking companies pay far better than national averages—and you can capture that by aligning your lane to your lifestyle.