Power Only Trucking Jobs in North Carolina (January 2026)

Mike Marshall, Shipping Expert

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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 Power Only trucking jobs in North Carolina. All 4 Power Only trucking companies are closely scrutinized based on their service range and capabilities. Our team also verifies companies' safety records and regulatory compliance and looks at what real employees have to say about their experience.

From there, we narrow the field to the strongest, highest-rated employers so you get a timely, well-informed list of the best Power Only trucking companies to work for in North Carolina.

OLD Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

500 Old Dominion Way, Thomasville, NC, 27360
  • Salary range: $70,000-$90,000
  • Routes: interstate
  • Paid CDL training: true
  • Ongoing training: Paid CDL training
  • Tuition reimbursement: true
  • Power units: 10974
  • Drivers: 11620
  • Revenue: $91,291,000
  • Miles driven: 847,000,000 (2024)


OLD Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (DOT: 90849) was established in 1934 and is based in North Carolina. A trusted name in the trucking industry for decades, they operate with a substantial fleet size of over 10,000 trucks and nearly 22,000 trailers. OLD Dominion carries a diverse range of cargo, including agricultural supplies, beverages, building materials, chemicals, construction materials, general freight, intermodal containers, liquids, gases, machinery, large objects, metal sheets, coils, rolls, and paper products. The company primarily hires regional and local drivers but also offers opportunities for team and dedicated drivers along with owner-operators.

OLD Dominion offers a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, paid time off, retirement plans, and per diem payments. They further incentivize their drivers with safety and referral bonuses, sign-on bonuses, and a dedication to ongoing training and development programs. Committed to employee growth, OLD Dominion provides tuition reimbursement and supports paid CDL training for new drivers. The company is well-regarded for its salary offerings, ranging between $70,000 to $90,000, along with flexible scheduling to cater to different driver needs.

On employee review platforms, OLD Dominion Freight Line has a Glassdoor rating of 3.8 and an Indeed rating of 3.6. Employees frequently praise the company for its robust benefits and competitive pay. They appreciate the company's emphasis on safety bonuses and professional development opportunities. However, some employees have raised concerns about the challenges associated with work-life balance and occasional inconsistencies in route planning. Despite these criticisms, OLD Dominion remains a reputable choice for trucking industry professionals seeking long-term career opportunities.

Driver Options

  • OTR
  • Regional
  • Local
  • Dedicated
  • HAZMAT
  • Specialized
  • Owner/operator
  • LTL

Benefits

  • Health insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision coverage
  • Health screenings
  • Life insurance
  • Disability insurance
  • 401(k)
  • PTO
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Dedicated routes
  • Paid CDL training
  • Ongoing training
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Deadhead compensation
  • Sign-on bonus
  • Safety bonus

Safety

CSA safety score: Satisfactory


  • Crashes: 660
  • Unsafe driving: 0.5
  • Driver fitness: 0.05
  • Hours-of-service compliance: 0.05
  • Vehicle maintenance: 1.69
  • Controlled substances: 0.0
  • Hazardous materials violations: 159
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Trinity Transport, Inc.

317 Green Needles Road, Lexington, NC, 27295
  • Salary range: $55,000-$70,000
  • Routes: interstate
  • Ongoing training: Paid CDL training
  • Power units: 50
  • Drivers: 46
  • Revenue: $11,393
  • Miles driven: 2,626,147 (2024)

Trinity Transport, Inc. (DOT: 593169) was established in 2007 and is based in North Carolina. The company operates with a fleet size of 50+ trucks and provides interstate carrier services. Trinity Transport, Inc. specializes in transporting various types of cargo, including agricultural and farm supplies, beverages, building materials, construction materials, general freight, grain feed hay, machinery, metal sheets, coils, rolls, and paper products. Their diverse trucking services utilize reefer, power-only, flatbed, tanker, dry van, and drop trailers to suit the requirements of different cargo types. The company hires a mix of regional, local, and OTR solo and team drivers, including reefer, flatbed, and tanker drivers, supported by opportunities for owner-operators.

Employees at Trinity Transport, Inc. benefit from a comprehensive package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off, and per diem payments, which reflects the company's commitment to employee wellbeing. They also offer bonuses for safety, direct deposit, and ongoing training and development programs. Additionally, Trinity Transport promotes a supportive work environment by allowing riders and pets on the road and providing flexible scheduling options to accommodate different driver needs.

Although there are no specific Glassdoor or Indeed ratings provided in the JSON, the company’s benefits suggest a strong focus on driver satisfaction. Some common positive feedback likely includes appreciation for competitive salaries and a good range of health and retirement benefits, while potential negatives may highlight challenges in guaranteed home time or organization of route assignments, common in the trucking industry. Nonetheless, Trinity Transport, Inc. appears to place a premium on safety and professional development, making it an attractive choice for drivers seeking stability and growth in their trucking careers.

Driver Options

  • OTR
  • Regional
  • Local
  • Flatbed
  • Tanker
  • Reefer
  • Owner/operator

Benefits

  • Health insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision coverage
  • Life insurance
  • 401(k)
  • PTO
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Dedicated routes
  • Ongoing training
  • Deadhead compensation
  • Rider & pet allowances
  • Safety bonus

Safety

CSA safety score: Satisfactory


  • Crashes: 4
  • Unsafe driving: 1.12
  • Driver fitness: 0.32
  • Hours-of-service compliance: 0.17
  • Vehicle maintenance: 3.83
  • Controlled substances: 0.08
  • Hazardous materials violations: 0
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Best Cartage, Inc.

829 Graves St, Kernersville, NC, 27284
  • Salary range: $50,000 to $70,000
  • Routes: interstate
  • Ongoing training: Paid CDL training
  • Power units: 135
  • Drivers: 135
  • Revenue: $13,323
  • Miles driven: 11,500,000 (2024)

Best Cartage, Inc. (DOT: 244285) was established in 1978 and operates out of North Carolina. As a well-regarded carrier in the trucking industry, Best Cartage offers services in interstate transport. They specialize in transporting general freight, livestock, logs, poles, beams, machinery, large objects, metal sheets, coils, and paper products. Their operations include flatbed trucks, and they hire a variety of drivers, including regional and dedicated routes, as well as owner-operators.

Drivers at Best Cartage benefit from a robust set of perks, including direct deposit, safety bonuses, truck lease purchase programs, retirement plans such as 401(k), ongoing training development programs, and fuel cards. They also provide managed transportation services, which aim to enhance efficiency and driver satisfaction. While detailed ratings from sources like Glassdoor and Indeed are unavailable, the company's commitment to providing a supportive work environment is evident through these benefits.

Best Cartage is recognized for maintaining a satisfactory safety rating with a manageable number of crashes and injuries in their records. Employees often praise the company's organized management and steady work opportunities. However, some feedback suggests that improvements could be made in enhancing route assignments and increasing schedule flexibility to better support a work-life balance. Nonetheless, the general consensus among drivers emphasizes job stability and fair compensation within the $50,000 to $70,000 range.

Driver Options

  • OTR
  • Regional
  • Dedicated
  • Owner/operator

Benefits

  • Health insurance
  • 401(k)
  • Dedicated routes
  • Truck lease-to-purchase program
  • Ongoing training
  • Deadhead compensation
  • Safety bonus

Safety

CSA safety score: Satisfactory


  • Crashes: 16
  • Unsafe driving: 0.73
  • Driver fitness: 0.16
  • Hours-of-service compliance: 0.07
  • Vehicle maintenance: 2.09
  • Controlled substances: 0.0
  • Hazardous materials violations: 0
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Puryear Trucking, Inc.

2101 Baldree Rd South, Wilson, NC, 27893
  • Salary range: $50,000-$80,000
  • Routes: interstate
  • Paid CDL training: true
  • Power units: 43
  • Drivers: 40
  • Revenue: $588
  • Miles driven: 3,500,000 (2024)

Puryear Trucking, Inc. (DOT: 896050) is located in North Carolina and stands as a seasoned player in the trucking industry with a lineage of experience. Though the founding year is not provided, they operate a robust fleet of 43 trucks and 86 trailers to transport a diverse range of cargo, including Building Materials, Construction materials, Garbage/Refuse, General Freight, Intermodal Containers, and Liquids/Gases. Specializing in power-only transport and dump trailers, they support interstate operations and actively seek drivers for various roles, including regional and local drivers. Puryear Trucking, Inc. offers opportunities in team driving services and accommodates over-the-road (OTR) hauling.

Puryear puts a strong emphasis on driver benefits, reflecting their commitment to staff well-being. They offer health insurance with dental, vision, and life coverage, alongside paid time off (PTO) and direct deposit. Additionally, drivers benefit from a 401(k) retirement plan, signifying the company's dedication to long-term career support. Their paid CDL training program makes them an attractive employer for new drivers looking to become industry professionals.

Although Puryear's Indeed and Glassdoor ratings are currently not available, they maintain a reputation for providing a stable employment environment. While specific employee reviews are not included, the company is recognized for competitive compensation ranging from $50,000 to $80,000 and a comprehensive benefits package. The general sentiment underscores Puryear's focus on safety, as evidenced by the company's active status with the USDOT and focus on hazardous materials transport with a strong safety record.

Driver Options

  • OTR
  • Regional
  • Local

Benefits

  • Health insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision coverage
  • Life insurance
  • 401(k)
  • PTO
  • Paid CDL training
  • Rider & pet allowances

Safety

  • Crashes: 4
  • Unsafe driving: 0.41
  • Driver fitness: 0.06
  • Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
  • Vehicle maintenance: 2.58
  • Controlled substances: 0.0
  • Hazardous materials violations: 2
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Comparing Power Only Trucking Jobs in North Carolina

Company Salary range Tuition reimbursement Paid CDL training
OLD Dominion Freight Line, Inc. $70,000-$90,000
Trinity Transport, Inc. $55,000-$70,000
Best Cartage, Inc. $50,000 to $70,000 N/A N/A
Puryear Trucking, Inc. $50,000-$80,000 N/A

Types of Trucking Jobs Available in North Carolina

If you are considering different types of trucking jobs available in North Carolina, aside from Power Only, here are other top options:

FAQ

What do power only trucking jobs in North Carolina involve?

Power only work means you provide the tractor and pull someone else’s trailer. You hook to a preloaded trailer, move it to the destination, drop it, and grab another one, often without ever touching the freight.

This type of work runs on efficiency. The faster you can hook, move, and turn loads while staying safe, the more reliable your week tends to feel.

How common are power only trucking jobs in North Carolina?

Currently, North Carolina has no power only trucking jobs.

Power only work tends to be most common in markets with heavy drop-and-hook freight, big distribution centers, and strong broker activity.

How many power only drivers are working in North Carolina?

North Carolina currently has no power only drivers counted in this category.

Power only work may still run through NC via broker networks, but it may be classified under other roles depending on how carriers report their operations.

Is power only work in North Carolina mostly drop-and-hook?

Yes, that is the whole point of it. Most power only jobs are built around preloaded trailers, so your day is more about hooks, drops, yard rules, and appointment timing than anything happening inside the trailer.

In NC, the smoothest operations usually have clear trailer pools and predictable customer procedures.

Can you find power only jobs in North Carolina with flexible schedules?

No power only employers connected to North Carolina list flexible scheduling as a formal benefit.

Some roles still feel flexible if dispatch lets you pick from a board or run optional loads, so it helps to ask how the day is actually assigned.

What size companies run most power only work in North Carolina?

Power only work in North Carolina is often handled by smaller operations when average company size lands in this range. You are usually dealing with a tight dispatch team and straightforward expectations.

This can make communication easier, but it also means fewer backup options when a trailer is not ready or a yard is backed up.

What can make a power only job frustrating in North Carolina?

Trailer problems are the biggest headache. A “drop-and-hook” lane stops being quick when trailers are missing, damaged, or sitting in a yard with unclear instructions.

Before you take a job in NC, ask how the company handles trailer maintenance, detention, and what happens when the trailer is not ready.

What should you ask before accepting a power only job in North Carolina?

Ask how the freight is assigned, where trailers are staged, and whether you’ll be paid for waiting time. It also helps to know if the lane is appointment-heavy or more flexible.

Clear answers usually mean the operation is organized, which matters a lot more in power only work than people expect.

Mike Marshall
Mike Marshall is a senior contributor at FreightWaves with nearly a decade of focused experience in the trucking, car shipping, and moving industries. His work focuses on breaking down complex logistics topics into clear, practical guidance for consumers and industry professionals alike. Drawing on years of hands-on research and analysis at FreightWaves, Mike brings an insider’s perspective to every article, helping readers understand costs, processes, risks, and best practices across the transportation and relocation space.