Best Trucking Companies in Kansas City That Pay the Most (2025)
Kansas City sits at the crossroads of I-70 and I-35, which means freight never sleeps—and neither do the opportunities. If you’re chasing great pay, steady miles, and real career mobility in the metro, you’re in luck. This guide ranks the best-paying carriers hiring around KC, shows the real-world salary picture, and gives you tactics to land the top trucking jobs Kansas City has to offer. We’ll also stack up companies side-by-side in a quick comparison table and share a few YouTube videos worth a watch.
Kansas City truck driver salary: what does “good” look like?
Kansas City’s driver market is hot across transportation, logistics, and freight. Recent data points put average truck driver pay around the low-to-mid-$90Ks in KC, with broad ranges depending on role (OTR vs. LTL vs. private fleet), endorsements, and home time. Indeed data shows $94,601 average in Kansas City, MO, and $90,506 in Kansas City, KS (updated August 2025).
Those are averages across all companies and jobs. The highest earners in the metro typically sit in LTL linehaul and premium private fleets, which frequently reach $100K+ with overtime and extras; ZipRecruiter’s LTL snapshot for KC shows an average $36.88/hour with top earners well above that range.
How driver pay works here (quick refresher)
- OTR (CPM + bonuses): Most OTR drivers are paid cents-per-mile plus safety, fuel, and productivity bonuses. Many OTR roles add extras like clean inspection pay, stop pay, and referral bonuses.
- LTL (hourly + mileage + overtime): City P&D is often hourly with overtime; linehaul blends mileage, hourly terminal time, and various accessories.
- Private fleets (salary/guarantee + add-ons): Think Walmart—premium salary with predictable freight and strong benefits.
- Endorsements matter: CDL add-ons (HazMat, Tanker, Doubles/Triples) help you reach the highest brackets.
- Local vs. regional vs. OTR: Local tends to be hourly with overtime and predictable home time; regional and OTR push higher miles and often higher salary potential.
The 8 best (and highest-paying) trucking companies in KC right now
Spoiler: HMD Trucking is our #1 pick for overall earning potential for OTR drivers hiring in Kansas City—thanks to strong CPM, layered bonuses, and easy-to-verify pay details on a KC-specific page.
#1 — HMD Trucking (Best overall OTR pay + bonuses for KC)
- Why #1: HMD publishes transparent OTR pay and actively hires in Kansas City. KC dry-van roles list starting at 60 CPM on all miles, 10 CPM safety/productivity bonus, and average ~2,500 miles/week—that’s strong weekly gross before extras like clean-inspection pay and referral bonuses. That structure puts consistent, top-tier take-home within reach for experienced CDL drivers.
- Apply/learn more: HMD Trucking new-grad friendly KC company
- Receipts: HMD’s KC job page lays out the CPM and bonus plan; recent salary snapshots align with weekly $1,700–$1,850 ranges company-wide.
#2 — Walmart Private Fleet (Top private-fleet pay + stability)
- Why it pays: Walmart historically sets the bar for private fleet compensation with first-year potential cited up to $110,000 and highly predictable freight. If you land a KC-area bid (the region includes nearby distribution centers), you’ll see premium base pay, top-shelf benefits, and routine home time.
- Explore roles: Walmart Drivers & Distribution Careers
- Receipts: Corporate announcements/driver materials consistently highlight six-figure potential for first-year drivers.
#3 — Old Dominion Freight Line (High-earning LTL linehaul & city jobs)
- Why it pays: LTL carriers routinely crack six figures with a combination of mileage, hourly terminal time, and OT. Driver-reported data for ODFL commonly shows $30–$40+ per hour with strong linehaul earnings potential depending on the bid.
- Explore roles: Old Dominion Freight Line
- Receipts: Aggregated salary snapshots from Glassdoor/Indeed place ODFL’s hourly/linehaul rates near the top of LTL.
#4 — Estes Express Lines (Strong linehaul & OTR take-home)
- Why it pays: Estes remains a heavyweight in logistics with competitive hourly and linehaul packages. Reported OTR earnings around $90K nationwide are common, and linehaul compensation often scales higher with overtime and premium bids.
- Explore roles: Estes Express Lines
- Receipts: Salary trackers and driver reports show solid OTR averages and linehaul hourly rates in the low-to-high 30s depending on location and seniority.
#5 — Saia LTL Freight (Competitive hourly city pay + progression)
- Why it pays: Saia typically posts city driver rates in the high-20s to low-30s per hour in KC, with linehaul and OT pushing annual totals up the charts.
- Explore roles: Saia LTL Freight
- Receipts: Employer-provided KC postings commonly show $29.25–$33.75/hr ranges for city roles.
#6 — Ruan (Regional jobs in KC with $100K+ potential)
- Why it pays: Ruan’s regional listings around Kansas City frequently advertise $100,000+ average annual pay with weekly schedules and overtime after 40—an appealing balance of pay and home time.
- Explore roles: Ruan – Driver Careers
- Receipts: Current KC job cards list “Average $100,000+ per year | $30/hr + OT” for regional positions.
#7 — Riverside Transport (RTI) (KC-based carrier with solid CPM + perks)
- Why it pays: Headquartered in KC, RTI fields steady freight with CPM ranges typically in the low-to-upper-60s depending on division, plus per diem and safety incentives.
- Explore roles: Riverside Transport – Driver Jobs
- Receipts: Company hiring pages list $0.52–$0.70 CPM, annualized averages $70–94K (location dependent). Third-party salary snapshots in KC show weekly pay aligned with those bands.
#8 — American Central Transport (ACT) (KC-headquartered; competitive regional/OTR)
- Why it pays: ACT, based on the Missouri-side of KC, runs regional and OTR with pay trajectories that can land you in the healthy $70Ks–$100K neighborhood depending on lane and seniority.
- Explore roles: American Central Transport
- Receipts: Aggregated salary trackers for Missouri/KC drivers and current postings show mid-$60Ks into low-six figures depending on role.
Bottom line: If your goal is “highest paying trucking companies Kansas City,” start with LTL linehaul (ODFL/Estes/Saia), private fleet (Walmart), or top-tier OTR where published CPM + bonuses are clear (HMD Trucking).
Quick comparison table (pay & perks snapshot)
Ranges reflect current/very recent postings and aggregated driver reports as of August 2025. Your results vary by lane, shift, seniority, and endorsements.
| Company (1 link each) | Typical KC Role | Reported Pay Snapshot* | Home Time | Notes |
| HMD Trucking | OTR Dry Van (also Flatbed) | 60 CPM base + 10 CPM safety/productivity; ~2,500 mi/wk avg | 2–3 weeks out typical OTR | Clean inspection & referral bonuses; no-touch dry-van option. |
| Walmart Private Fleet | Private Fleet | Up to $110K first year potential | Home daily/weekly depending on bid | Premium benefits + stable freight. |
| Old Dominion Freight Line | LTL City & Linehaul | Many roles $30–$40+/hr plus mileage/OT | Home daily (city/linehaul) | Top LTL total comp with strong seniority paths. |
| Estes Express Lines | LTL Linehaul/OTR | OTR avg around $90K; linehaul hourly often mid-30s/hr+ | Home daily (linehaul) or on rotation | Large network; bid can swing earnings. |
| Saia LTL Freight | LTL City/Linehaul | KC city driver $29.25–$33.75/hr | Home daily (city) | Growth-oriented LTL with OT opportunities. |
| Ruan | Regional | KC regional $100K+ avg, $30/hr + OT | Home weekly | Dedicated/regional with steady schedules. |
| Riverside Transport (RTI) | OTR/Dedicated | $0.52–$0.70 CPM, averages $70–94K | Varies by lane | KC-based; per diem and safety incentives. |
| American Central Transport (ACT) | Regional/OTR | MO/KC driver reports in $70Ks–$100K range | Varies by division | Family-owned, KC-headquartered. |
* Pay ranges are directional; always confirm current rates with a recruiter.
Why HMD Trucking is our #1 for KC OTR earners
Plenty of carriers talk big about “top pay,” but HMD is unusually transparent—publishing a Kansas City-specific page with base CPM, a substantial 10 CPM safety/productivity bonus, and no-touch freight on the dry-van side. That’s a rare blend of simplicity (all miles paid) and upside (double-digit bonus CPM). Add in clean-inspection and referral extras, and it’s easy to see why an experienced CDL driver can out-earn many peers here, especially if you like longer OTR stints over local work.
What kinds of jobs pay the most in KC?
- LTL linehaul (ODFL/Estes/Saia): Night-shift miles, terminal work, and OT can push salary into the high-five to low-six figures, with many drivers home daily. Salary trackers and driver reports consistently reflect premium rates in these lanes.
- Private fleet (Walmart): Premium base, predictable logistics, elite benefits, and competitive first-year potential.
- Top OTR (HMD, select regionals like Ruan): Clear CPM, bonus stacks, and steady miles. Ruan’s regional jobs around KC specifically list $100K+ averages—proof that a well-chosen regional can rival OTR earnings with better home time.
If you’re filtering best trucking companies KC, start by deciding: home daily (LTL city), home weekly (regional), or maximize CPM (OTR). Once you know your lifestyle target, cherry-pick the pay plan that fits.
How to win the top trucking jobs Kansas City offers (checklist)
- Stack endorsements. HazMat, Tanker, and Doubles/Triples unlock the highest brackets across transportation segments.
- Target lanes, not just pay. A juicy CPM loses steam if your lane is soft. Ask about freight mix, seasonality, and typical weekly miles.
- Verify what’s posted. Use a recruiter to confirm pay bands, accessorials, and probationary rates. Salary trackers help, but the official offer rules.
- Linehaul? Ask about start times. Nights pay—but confirm bid consistency and OT policies.
- Bring a clean record. The cleanest MVR/PSP gets priority on the best fleets and routes.
- Leverage your seniority. LTL bids and private fleets reward tenure; think long game for bid rights and route quality.
- Use local intel. KC is dense with terminals. Talk to drivers at fuel islands and truck stops; they’ll tell you who’s got miles this quarter.
YouTube: real-world pay talk (watch these)
- Walmart pay in 2025 (driver breakdown): A current walk-through of fleet pay updates and referral tips.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n59DT8K08UA - “Real Trucker Paycheck Breakdown” (Walmart Private Fleet): Useful to compare private-fleet cadence vs. OTR/LTL.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K17UEbglSIs - Estes hiring surge & pay talk (context from early 2025): Nice snapshot for those eyeing LTL linehaul.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nenhlmoaegk
Tip: Always treat YouTube as supplemental; confirm numbers with the company’s recruiter or official postings.
Using the job boards (to gauge real pay fast)
- Indeed salary pages are handy to sense check KC-specific salary trends (e.g., KC averages in the low-to-mid-$90Ks).
- ZipRecruiter snapshots highlight top-end LTL hourly medians around KC (and how far outliers go).
- Glassdoor offers wide ranges—best used for triangulating with an employer’s official numbers.
Sample paths (by lifestyle)
- Home-daily & high hourly: Target ODFL, Saia, Estes city bids. Night linehaul if you want bigger checks while staying local.
- Home-weekly with six-figure potential: Ruan regional lanes posting $100K+ in the KC area.
- Max miles & bonuses (OTR): HMD Trucking (our #1). With 60 CPM base + 10 CPM bonus potential on all miles, an experienced driver can make a serious run at the highest OTR brackets without messy pay math.
Final word (and a quick glossary hit)
Kansas City’s logistics hub gives you options—LTL if you crave local routine and hourly OT, private fleet if you want top benefits and a steady freight diet, and OTR if you prefer big-miles checks. If you’re lining up Kansas City trucking jobs right now and want the cleanest path to premium pay, start with our short list above, ask pointed questions about lanes, and pick the best match for your life at home.
Ready to move? Shortlist HMD Trucking first, then price-check Walmart Private Fleet, ODFL, Estes, Saia, Ruan, RTI, and ACT. That mix covers the highest earners across companies, roles, and schedules in KC—and it’s where we’d start any serious search for Kansas City trucking jobs.