Best Trucking Companies in Tennessee
10 top-ranked carriers hiring in Tennessee. Compare pay, hiring status, and find the right fit for your driving career.
Tennessee Trucking Market Overview
Tennessee is a trucking industry powerhouse with an extraordinary concentration of carrier headquarters. FedEx (Memphis), Covenant Transport (Chattanooga), Averitt Express (Cookeville), Forward Air (Greeneville), and US Xpress (Chattanooga) all call Tennessee home. Memphis is the largest air freight hub in the world (FedEx SuperHub) and a major rail/truck intermodal gateway. Nashville's explosive growth has added distribution and construction freight demand.
Top 10 Companies in Tennessee
FedEx is headquartered in Memphis, TN, making Tennessee the epicenter of their freight operations with the widest variety of LTL positions.
Covenant Transport is based in Chattanooga, TN, and their home-state OTR, dedicated, and team driving positions get first-pick advantages.
Averitt is headquartered in Cookeville, TN, and their home-state drivers enjoy the best regional LTL and truckload routes.
Forward Air is based in Greeneville, TN, and their airport-to-airport expedited service centered on Memphis FedEx operations pays competitive rates.
US Xpress, based in Chattanooga, offers accessible OTR and dedicated positions with fuel-efficient Variant fleet trucks.
ODFL's Tennessee terminals serve the Memphis and Nashville distribution hubs with industry-leading LTL compensation.
Knight-Swift runs heavy I-40, I-65, and I-24 corridor freight through Tennessee with extensive position variety.
USA Truck, based in nearby Van Buren, AR, offers regional and dedicated lanes through Tennessee's freight corridors.
Schneider leverages Tennessee's central location for dedicated, intermodal, and bulk freight with strong training support.
SEFL's Tennessee terminals serve the Nashville and Chattanooga distribution hubs with reliable regional LTL routes.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Trucking in Tennessee
What is the best trucking company to work for in Tennessee?
Based on our 2026 rankings, FedEx Freight ranks #1 in Tennessee with an average pay of $76,000 per year. They earned the top spot because fedex is headquartered in memphis, tn, making tennessee the epicenter of their freight operations with the widest variety of ltl positions. The best choice for you depends on your experience level, preferred driving type, and home time needs.
How much do truck drivers make in Tennessee?
Pay varies by carrier and position type. Among the top companies in Tennessee, average pay ranges from $66,000 to $76,000 per year for company drivers. Owner-operators and specialized drivers (tanker, HazMat) can earn significantly more. The state's top industries — Air Freight & Express (FedEx HQ), Automotive (Nissan, GM), Distribution & Logistics — influence which types of driving pay the most.
Which trucking companies are hiring in Tennessee right now?
As of 2026, FedEx Freight, Covenant Transport, Averitt Express, Knight-Swift Transportation are all actively hiring in Tennessee. 5 additional companies are also hiring at a steady pace. Companies marked as "Selective" are hiring but have stricter experience requirements.