OTR Power Only Driver Jobs in South Carolina — Now Hiring

What does a power only driver actually haul?

This over-the-road power only seat is domiciled in Charleston, South Carolina. The work is the state's freight, not a generic power only explainer — the lanes out of Charleston set the loads.

Full power only driver guide — top carriers, endorsements and career path

Where in South Carolina would you actually be running?

Freight here moves on a handful of named lanes. These are the ones a power only seat domiciled in Charleston is most likely to see.

• Charleston: I-26, I-526, US-17 — Port Operations and Automotive (BMW, Volvo) freight.
• Greenville: I-85, I-385, I-26 — Automotive Manufacturing (BMW) and Tire Production freight.
• Columbia: I-20, I-26, I-77 — Military (Fort Jackson) and Distribution & Logistics freight.
• Spartanburg: I-85, I-26, US-29 — Automotive (BMW) and Tire Manufacturing (Michelin) freight.

What does this power only seat pay in South Carolina?

The band on this posting is $51,000 - $72,500/year. Where you land inside it comes down to verifiable experience, the lane you take, and your safety record.

For context, the statewide CDL-A average is $55,680. Wages here are rising — South Carolina trucking wages are rising as the Port of Charleston undergoes major expansion and the Upstate I-85 corridor attracts automotive manufacturing (BMW, Volvo) and distribution centers.

South Carolina runs a cost-of-living index of 91, so this band is worth roughly $61,187 once living costs are taken out. That number is what to compare against an offer in another state.

• Strongest-paying metros in South Carolina:
• Charleston — about $57,907
• Greenville — about $57,907
• Columbia — about $57,907

South Carolina CDL pay breakdown by experience level and equipment

What do you need to qualify?

• CDL-A and 1+ years of verifiable driving time.
• Domiciled in or around Charleston, SC — that is the reset market, not a yard you clock into.

Full power only requirements and endorsements

What is the hardest part of this job?

We would rather you know now than quit in week three. The one that catches people on this seat: relies heavily on trailer availability — if there's no trailer at the pickup, you don't move and don't earn

Pros, cons and a day in the life of a power only driver

What should a power only driver know before running South Carolina?

Speed limits for trucks in South Carolina run 70 mph (same as cars). Rural: 70 mph. Tolls: Southern Connector (Greenville area toll road). Cross Island Parkway (Hilton Head). Limited toll infrastructure.

Fuel tax in South Carolina is $0.28 per gallon diesel + federal, which matters if you are comparing per-mile offers across state lines. Inspection climate: Moderate. SC Highway Patrol focuses on I-85, I-95, and I-26 to Charleston port corridor.

Which South Carolina rules catch power only drivers out?

• Gross weight limit: 80,000 lbs
• Axle weight: 20,000 lbs single axle, 34,000 lbs tandem
• Truck speed limits: 70 mph rural, 55 mph urban
• Diesel fuel tax: $0.28 per gallon diesel + federal
• Tolls: Southern Connector (Greenville area toll road). Cross Island Parkway (Hilton Head). Limited toll infrastructure.
• Inspection posture: Moderate. SC Highway Patrol focuses on I-85, I-95, and I-26 to Charleston port corridor.
• Port of Charleston is one of the fastest-growing container ports in the US
• BMW (Spartanburg), Volvo (Ridgeville), and Mercedes (Vance) auto plants generate significant freight
• I-95 is the primary north-south through-route for East Coast truck traffic

All South Carolina driving jobs and state regulations

How does applying through us work?

1. 1You send the short form on this page. It takes under a minute and needs no resume.
2. 2A recruiter reads it and calls you — a real person, not an automated screen.
3. 3We match you against the over-the-road power only openings our client carriers have right now, including ones never posted publicly.
4. 4You choose which to interview for. Nothing is submitted anywhere without you saying yes.
5. 5There is no cost to you at any point. Carriers pay us, drivers never do.

Are these jobs actually live?

Yes — and it is a fair thing to ask, because plenty of driver postings are not.

Ahmad Qazi, sales representative at TruckingJobsInUSA: “Carriers have filled seats through this platform, and the owners we place drivers with are straightforward to deal with. If a seat is gone, we take the posting down rather than leave it up to collect applications.”

Every posting on this site is republished on the date shown, so what you are reading is current recruitment, not an archive.