Schneider is the default pick for most CDL drivers who want a large fleet with varied freight, while UPS is the default pick for delivery drivers who want hourly pay that starts at $23 per hour and rises to about $45 per hour at the top rate. Starting figures are not one national rate. Schneider lists $0.39 to $0.70 per mile, Swift lists $0.43 to $0.72 per mile, and FedEx Freight lists $0.7162 per mile for linehaul work in one posting, so route and location change the result. A fact most roundups miss is that J.B. Hunt intermodal roles use activity-based pay, so stop, detention and cross-town amounts sit beside mileage, and the $86,000 figure for one regional role is an average, not a fixed salary.
Pick by licence, home time and how you want to be measured. CDL-A drivers can compare cents per mile, annual averages and hourly rates, while delivery drivers in their own cars should compare block pay, base pay per offer and vehicle costs. The figures below come from official pages and job postings opened on 12 November 2026, and each figure names the role it came from.
On this page
Best companies to drive: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schneider | Team and van truckload drivers | $0.39 to $0.70 per mile | Not applicable | Visit |
| 2 | J.B. Hunt | Regional intermodal drivers | $86,000 average annual earnings | Not applicable | Visit |
| 3 | Swift Transportation | New CDL drivers and team drivers | $0.43 to $0.72 per mile | Not applicable | Visit |
| 4 | Werner Enterprises | Team drivers moving up Select to Elite | $50,000 per year starting salary | Not applicable | Visit |
| 5 | UPS | Delivery drivers who want hourly pay and a union contract path | $23 per hour starting | Not applicable | Visit |
| 6 | FedEx Freight | CDL drivers with endorsements who want LTL linehaul work | $0.7162 per mile for linehaul, $31.26 per… | Not applicable | Visit |
| 7 | Amazon Flex | Drivers with a car who want to choose delivery blocks | $18 to $25 per hour | Not applicable | Visit |
| 8 | DoorDash | Drivers who want flexible food and grocery delivery in their own car | $2 to $10+ base pay per delivery | Not applicable | Visit |
The 8 best best companies to drives, in detail
Schneider
Best for: Team and van truckload drivers
Schneider is a large national carrier with van truckload, dedicated, intermodal and tanker work, so a driver can change freight type without changing employer. The official pay guide states the cents-per-mile answer as $0.39, $0.50, $0.70 or just about anything in between, and it warns that mileage alone does not show total earnings. Loading and unloading, detention, layover, stop-off and performance amounts can sit beside mileage.
- A team van truckload posting lists mileage up to $0.58 per mile, plus hourly amounts while on duty and not driving, and top drivers earning up to $82,
- The same posting lists a $1,000 weekly guarantee per driver in the first 90 days.
Pros
- Mileage range of $0.39 to $0.70 per mile on the official pay guide
- $1,000 weekly guarantee per driver in the first 90 days on team van roles
Cons
- Rate varies by location, freight type and experience, so no single rate applies to every driver
- team van roles can keep drivers away for about three weeks at a time
J.B. Hunt
Best for: Regional intermodal drivers
J.B. Hunt runs intermodal, dedicated contract services and truckload work, and the three divisions do not pay in the same way. The regional intermodal role in this guide lists average annual earnings of $86,000, with mileage at $0.69 to $0.79 per mile, cross-town amounts of $25 to $60 per move and a $10,000 bonus plan.
- Activity-based pay is the key detail here.
- Drivers earn for activities such as stops, detention and cross-town moves, not only for miles driven, and the posting notes that training, endorsement
- Choose J.B.
- Hunt when you want intermodal or dedicated work with home time that is daily or weekly on many lanes.
Pros
- Activity-based pay adds stop, detention and cross-town amounts beside mileage
- $10,000 bonus plan listed on the regional intermodal role
Cons
- Pay depends on activities completed, tenure, equipment type and days worked, so the annual figure is an average not a fixed salary
- many roles need at least 3 months of experience
Swift Transportation
Best for: New CDL drivers and team drivers
Swift Transportation hires for dry van, dedicated, regional and over-the-road work, and it accepts drivers with 0 to 6 months of experience on some roles. The Oklahoma City dedicated team role lists $1,600 average weekly pay per driver, $15 stop pay and $0.80 per mile split per driver, depending on route and verifiable experience. The pay transparency section gives a wider trip pay range of $0.43 to $0.72 per mile.
- Benefits on that posting include medical, dental, vision and prescription cover for employees and family, life insurance, short-term and long-term dis
Pros
- $1,600 average weekly pay per driver on the Oklahoma City dedicated team role
- will train new drivers on some roles
Cons
- Home time on team lanes can stretch to weeks at a time
- trip pay range depends on route and verifiable experience
Werner Enterprises
Best for: Team drivers moving up Select to Elite
Werner states a starting salary of at least $50,000, average earnings of $75,000 or more per year and top performers at $90,000 or more per year. The team ladder is the clearest part of the offer. Select team drivers, with up to 3 months of experience, earn up to $0.65 per mile and $60,000 to $93,500 per driver per year.
- Premier team drivers, with 3 or more months, earn up to $0.79 per mile and $65,000 to $97,000 per driver per year.
- Elite team drivers, with 9 or more months of teaming, earn up to $0.92 per mile and $77,000 to $130,000 per driver per year.
Pros
- Average earnings of $75,000+ annually, with top performers at $90,000+
- team Elite drivers earn $77,000 to $130,000+ after 9 months of teaming
Cons
- Top team figures need 9+ months of teaming experience
- pay figures are estimates and not a guarantee of earnings
UPS
Best for: Delivery drivers who want hourly pay and a union contract path
UPS offers full-time CDL driving jobs, non-CDL delivery driver positions and short-term seasonal driving work. The official UPS page states that pay starts at $23 per hour, full-time drivers receive guaranteed annual raises and drivers at the top rate receive about $45 per hour, plus overtime. That hourly structure is simpler to compare than cents per mile, because the rate does not change with route length or freight type in the same way.
- Benefits include healthcare with no premiums and low co-pay, pension contributions and vacations, holidays and option days.
- The Teamsters contract sets the wage path, with a 48-month progression to the top rate for full-time drivers and a route into driving that often start
Pros
- Top rate of about $45 per hour plus overtime
- healthcare with no premiums and low co-pay
Cons
- Drivers start at $23 per hour and reach the top rate only after progression, so early earnings are well below the top figure
- full-time driver roles often depend on seniority
FedEx Freight
Best for: CDL drivers with endorsements who want LTL linehaul work
FedEx Freight is a less-than-truckload carrier, so its drivers move trailers between service centres and turn-point locations rather than hauling one full load for one customer. A road driver posting for Huron, OH lists a starting rate of $0.7162 per mile for linehaul duties and $31.26 per hour for non-linehaul duties. A Henderson, CO posting lists a starting rate of $0.7561 per mile and $32.90 per hour, with a mileage range up to $0.8753 per mile.
- The role needs a Class A CDL with double/triple, hazardous materials and tank endorsements, plus 1 year of experience in the most recent 3 years or co
Pros
- Mileage range up to $0.8753 per mile on the Henderson, CO posting
- hourly range of $32.90 to $38.08 per hour on the same posting
Cons
- Needs a Class A CDL with double/triple, hazardous materials and tank endorsements
- needs 1 year of experience in the most recent 3 years or completion of the FedEx Freight Driver Development Course
Amazon Flex
Best for: Drivers with a car who want to choose delivery blocks
Amazon Flex is an independent contractor program, not an employee role. Drivers use their own vehicle, reserve delivery blocks in the Flex app and deliver Amazon packages, including grocery blocks from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market. Amazon states that most drivers earn $18 to $25 per hour, with actual earnings varying by location, tips, delivery time and other factors.
- The Flex FAQ states that Amazon will always contribute at least $15 to $19 per scheduled hour, with the exact floor depending on where you deliver and
- Drivers must be 21 or older and have a valid licence, a qualifying vehicle and a smartphone.
Pros
- See block pay before accepting a block
- Amazon contributes at least $15 to $19 per scheduled hour depending on city and demand
Cons
- Own vehicle costs come out of earnings, with no mileage reimbursement stated
- blocks are not guaranteed and earnings vary by location, tips and delivery time
DoorDash
Best for: Drivers who want flexible food and grocery delivery in their own car
DoorDash drivers, known as Dashers, deliver food, grocery and retail orders as independent contractors. Dasher pay has three parts: base pay, customer tips and promotions. In Earn per Offer mode, base pay ranges from $2 to $10 or more per delivery, depending on estimated time, distance and desirability of the offer, and the full breakdown is shown before you accept.
- In Earn by Time mode, drivers receive a minimum guaranteed active hourly rate for time spent actively on a delivery.
- Dashers keep 100 percent of customer tips on top of base pay and promotions, and Peak Pay can add an amount per eligible delivery during busy periods.
- The standard payout is weekly by direct deposit, while Fast Pay allows one transfer per day for a $1.99 fee, subject to eligibility and approval.
Pros
- See the guaranteed minimum pay before accepting an offer
- keep 100 percent of customer tips
Cons
- Base pay can be as low as $2 per delivery
- Fast Pay costs $1.99 per transfer, and drivers cover fuel and vehicle costs
How we chose
We included only companies with an official careers or driver page and a published pay figure or a published job posting that names a rate, an annual average or an hourly starting rate. We checked official pages and job postings on 12 November 2026, and we kept the role beside each figure, because a team rate, a local rate and a linehaul rate are not the same thing. We did not test any tool hands-on. Where a figure came from a job board copy of a company posting, the Sources line names that copy so the reader can check the original posting.
Pick by licence, home time and pay type
| Driver type | Best fit | Starting figure to compare |
|---|---|---|
| CDL-A, wants miles | Schneider, Swift Transportation | $0.39 to $0.70 per mile; $0.43 to $0.72 per mile |
| CDL-A, wants team ladder | Werner Enterprises | $50,000 per year starting salary, Elite team $77,000 to $130,000+ |
| CDL-A, wants local hourly work | UPS, FedEx Freight | $23 per hour; $31.26 per hour |
| CDL-A, wants intermodal | J.B. Hunt | $86,000 average annual earnings |
| Own car, wants flexible blocks | Amazon Flex, DoorDash | $18 to $25 per hour; $2 to $10+ base pay per delivery |
Frequently asked questions
How much do truck drivers earn at the companies in this guide?
Earnings vary by role, route and location. Werner lists a starting salary of at least $50,000 per year and average earnings of $75,000 or more, J.B. Hunt lists $86,000 average annual earnings for one regional intermodal role, and UPS lists $23 per hour starting, rising to about $45 per hour at the top rate.
Which is best for new CDL drivers?
Swift Transportation is the clearest pick for new CDL drivers, because it lists roles for drivers with 0 to 6 months of experience and states that it will train new drivers on some roles, with a trip pay range of $0.43 to $0.72 per mile.
Which is best for drivers who want to be home every night?
UPS and FedEx Freight local roles suit nightly home time best. UPS delivery drivers work local routes, and FedEx Freight city drivers pick up and deliver freight between service centres and customers. Ask each recruiter about the exact route and start time, because local work still varies by depot and shift.
Do Amazon Flex and DoorDash provide a vehicle?
No. Amazon Flex drivers use their own vehicle and must be 21 or older with a qualifying vehicle, while DoorDash drivers use their own vehicle and must be 18 or older in most states. UPS, FedEx Freight, Schneider, J.B. Hunt, Swift Transportation and Werner provide company vehicles for employee driving roles, which is a key difference from the two contractor options.
What does activity-based pay mean at J.B. Hunt?
Activity-based pay means drivers earn for activities beside mileage, such as stops, detention and cross-town moves. The regional intermodal role lists $0.69 to $0.79 per mile, cross-town amounts of $25 to $60 per move and a $10,000 bonus plan, with average annual earnings of $86,000.
Can I earn $100,000 or more as a driver?
Yes, on some roles, but only with the right lane and experience. Werner lists Elite team drivers at $77,000 to $130,000 or more per year after 9 months of teaming, and top performers at $90,000 or more per year. Check the written offer for the exact mileage and bonus terms before you accept a role.
Sources
- https://schneiderjobs.com/
- https://schneiderjobs.com/blog/schneider-cents-per-mile
- https://www.jbhunt.com/
- https://www.swifttrans.com/
- https://www.swifttrans.com/careers/drivers/search-driving-jobs/search-results/115067
- https://werner.com/
- https://werner.com/truck-driver-benefits/
- https://www.ups.com/
- https://about.ups.com/us/en/our-company/great-employer/drive-full-time-with-ups-and-see-the-sights.html
- https://www.fedex.com/
- https://flex.amazon.com/
- https://dasher.doordash.com/
- https://dasher.doordash.com/en-us/about/pay
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.