Old Dominion Freight Line vs Estes Express Lines
Both Virginia-based LTL leaders. Old Dominion is publicly traded with industry-best profit sharing. Estes is privately held with ESOP. Old Dominion pays more; Estes is easier to get into.
Old Dominion Freight Line
- Pay
- $65,000 - $100,000+
- Fleet
- 10,000+ tractors
- Rating
- 4.5/5
Estes Express Lines
- Pay
- $58,000 - $90,000
- Fleet
- 8,000+ tractors
- Rating
- 4.2/5
Head-to-Head Comparison
Pay
Old Dominion Freight Line
ODFL pays $65K-$100K+ with substantial profit sharing.
Estes Express Lines
Estes pays $58K-$90K with ESOP building wealth.
Home Time
Old Dominion Freight Line
City daily; linehaul weekly.
Estes Express Lines
City daily; linehaul predictable.
Benefits
Old Dominion Freight Line
Profit sharing, 401(k), stock purchase.
Estes Express Lines
ESOP, 401(k), health, dock-to-driver.
Training/Support
Old Dominion Freight Line
1 year required. Selective hiring.
Estes Express Lines
Strong dock-to-driver. Promotes from within.
Equipment/Technology
Old Dominion Freight Line
Modern fleet, 250+ terminals.
Estes Express Lines
Large, well-maintained fleet.
Our Verdict
Old Dominion for maximum pay. Estes for ESOP ownership and career entry through dock-to-driver. Both are premier LTL employers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which pays more?
Old Dominion with profit sharing. Estes ESOP builds wealth differently but ODFL's annual comp is higher.
Which promotes from within more?
Estes has a more formalized dock-to-driver program.
Both from Virginia?
Yes. Old Dominion is in Thomasville, NC (near VA border). Estes is in Richmond, VA.