Top 12 Highest-Paying Trucking Employers in Charlotte (CPM + Bonuses)

Charlotte’s a booming freight hub, which means strong demand for truck drivers—and plenty of competition among carriers to pay well. If you’re searching for highest paying trucking jobs Charlotte options, this roundup cuts through the noise with current CPM (cents-per-mile) ranges and the bonus structures that actually move your paycheck. I’ve prioritized CPM transparency, home-time fit, and total extras (detention, safety, productivity, referral, sign-on)—so you can pick what fits your goals, whether you’re company or owner-operator curious. 

How I ranked these companies

• CPM first, but not only: I weighed posted CPM for Charlotte/NC lanes, then added bonuses and guarantees that meaningfully boost take-home.
  
• Local relevance: Either headquartered nearby, running dedicated in the metro, or actively hiring out of Charlotte.
  
• Clarity: Preference for employers that publish pay plainly (not just “competitive”).
  

⚑ Note: Pay plans fluctuate by fleet, lane, tenure, endorsements, and performance. Treat these as recent snapshots and always confirm with a recruiter.

1) HMD Trucking — The total-pay package to beat in CLT

Why #1: HMD blends paying base rates with consistent bonuses, clear Charlotte postings, and paid empty miles. Their flatbed listing specifically for Charlotte shows a strong CPM plus monthly bonus and sign-on—so you’re not guessing.
Pay snapshot: 65 CPM base for flatbed + 5 CPM monthly bonus above 11k miles; $2,500 sign-on; standard benefits. Home every 2–4 weeks. (HMD Trucking Charlotte pay + bonus info)
Best for: Drivers who want “set-it-and-forget-it” earnings—bonus CPM you can realistically hit, plus a straightforward path to bigger checks.

2) Barr-Nunn Transportation

Why it’s high-pay: Consistently among the best trucking employers Charlotte drivers cite for pure mileage pay. Current postings show some of the richest CPM bands in the market.
Pay snapshot: $0.65–$0.73 CPM depending on role/experience. (Extras vary by fleet.) (hiringdriversnow.com)
Best for: Over-the-road mileage hawks who want top-tier CPM out of the gate.

3) K&B Transportation

Why it’s high-pay: The guarantee turns slow weeks into predictable salaries. K&B also posts solid starting CPM with paths to higher rates (and a “Road Warrior” premium on some fleets).
Pay snapshot: Starts at 62 CPM + guaranteed $1,564 weekly, with multiple bonus opportunities; select fleets advertise up to 70 CPM. (Drive K&B)
Best for: Drivers tired of “weather/shipper” roulette—guarantee = steadier Charlotte trucking jobs salary outcomes.

4) Decker Truck Line (Flatbed & Reefer)

Why it’s high-pay: Wide CPM band with step-ups and monthly performance adds—published openly on Charlotte-area listings.
Pay snapshot: $0.53–$0.70 CPM based on experience + up to $0.05 CPM monthly performance bonus; annual CPM raises. (Glassdoor)
Best for: Flatbed pros who like structured raises and bonus ladders.

5) Crete Carrier / Shaffer Trucking

Why it’s high-pay: One of the most transparent national carriers—and they still post big-league CPM in 2025, with real quarterly bonuses.
Pay snapshot: OTR starting $0.61–$0.66 CPM + quarterly safety/productivity bonus; practical miles pay. (Crete Carrier Corporation)
Best for: Drivers who want a large, well-run fleet with consistently strong CPM and extras.

6) Maverick Transportation (Flatbed & Glass)

Why it’s high-pay: Strong CPM for experienced drivers plus logistics-friendly extras like tarp and detention pay—flatbed pros know these add up.
Pay snapshot: Experienced flatbed $0.59–$0.635 CPM + $50 tarp + $15 detention + referral bonuses. (Glass division can post higher CPM on specific fleets.) (maverickusa.com)
Best for: Skilled flatbedders who want CPM plus rich accessorials.

7) Melton Truck Lines (Flatbed)

Why it’s high-pay: Clear, tenure-based CPM ladder with a 60 CPM ceiling for 3+ years—easy to understand, easy to forecast.
Pay snapshot: 52–60 CPM based on experience, with defined step-ups. (drive4melton.com)
Best for: Drivers who like a predictable path to top rate and steady transportation work.

8) Red Classic (Coca-Cola Consolidated’s Fleet) — Charlotte HQ

Why it’s high-pay: Home-daily schedules with $0.60–$0.66 CPM posted and accessorials (min trip, detention after 30 min, breakdown, uniform stipend)—rare transparency for a local/dedicated model.
Pay snapshot: $0.60–$0.66 CPM; home daily; published schedule options and accessorials. (milwaukeejobs.com)
Best for: Drivers who want top local pay and to sleep in their own bed—one of the top trucking companies Charlotte can claim as hometown.

9) Cargo Transporters (NC-based)

Why it’s high-pay: Their standard pay option shows a strong base CPM plus a weekly productivity add—published on their site (not just in ads).
Pay snapshot: $0.60 CPM base + +3 CPM productivity on all weekly miles (solo). Home-weekly options. (cargotransporters.com)
Best for: Regional drivers prioritizing home-weekly and predictable bonuses.

10) Knight Transportation (Knight-Swift) — Charlotte Refrigerated

Why it’s high-pay: Charlotte-specific role with endorsement pay, robust weekly averages, and a clean CPM posting.
Pay snapshot: $0.60 CPM; $1,600–$1,800 weekly average; ~2,600+ miles/wk; HazMat/Tanker required. (Knight Transportation)
Best for: Endorsed drivers (HazMat/Tanker) who want a high-mileage CLT assignment.

11) MigWay (Charlotte-based)

Why it’s high-pay: Local favorite with transparent CPM and safety bonus structure—good balance of home time and checks.
Pay snapshot: $0.55–$0.65 CPM + tiered safety bonuses. (Migway)
Best for: Drivers who like a mid-sized employers feel and quick answers from local logistics staff.

12) EPES Transport (Regional)

Why it’s high-pay: Weekly-home jobs with solid annual ranges, productivity bonus, and a Northeast premium option (+$0.25 CPM) if you want to chase max earnings.
Pay snapshot: Experienced drivers $50,000–$80,000/yr; productivity bonus; +$0.25/mile Northeast premium available; paid holidays and extras (breakdown, HazMat). Home weekly. (Epes)
Best for: Regional drivers who value weekends home and predictable lanes—trucking jobs Charlotte bonuses that don’t require living on the road.

Quick picks by driver profile

• I want the best overall money + momentum: HMD Trucking (bonus CPM you can hit, paid empty miles, clear CLT opening). This is where the math + consistency wins. (HMD Trucking Inc.)
  
• I just want max CPM today: Barr-Nunn, Decker (top-band CPM) or K&B (plus that weekly guarantee). (hiringdriversnow.com, Glassdoor, Drive K&B)
  
• Flatbed specialists: Maverick or Melton (solid CPM + tarp/detention; skills get paid). (maverickusa.com, drive4melton.com)
  
• Home-daily in Charlotte: Red Classic (local with CPM transparency and accessorials). (milwaukeejobs.com)
  
• Home weekly, regional: Cargo Transporters, EPES (bonus-friendly, weekly rhythm). (cargotransporters.com, Epes)
  

What does “high-pay” really look like in Charlotte?

If you’re comparing Charlotte trucking jobs salary offers, stare at three lines on the pay sheet:

1. Base CPM on all miles (practical vs. short route).
   
2. Bonus CPM (safety, productivity, hazmat, glass/flatbed skill) and how often drivers actually hit it.
   
3. Guarantees or accessorials: detention, layover, min trip pay, breakdown, stop/tarp.
   

Put differently: a “lower” base CPM + reliable bonus CPM can beat a flashy headline. That’s why HMD, K&B, and Red Classic rank so well—their bonus and guarantee mechanics convert into cash, not just marketing.

Charlotte market notes (so you can negotiate smarter)

• Dedicated & LTL (e.g., Red Classic) often publish hourly or flat-daily pay or CPM + accessorials. If a job you love isn’t pure CPM, convert the offer into a CPM-equivalent over expected miles to compare apples to apples.
  
• Flatbed pays for skill. Tarp and securement add consistent dollars. That’s how Maverick/Melton drivers step past dry-van CPM with “little” extras. (maverickusa.com, drive4melton.com)
  
• Guarantees are gold for budgeting. K&B’s weekly floor tamps down soft weeks—and that can matter more than 1–2 CPM on paper. (Drive K&B)
  
• Endorsements pay. HazMat/Tanker or specialized glass divisions can bump you into a new pay tier, even on the same tractor. (See Knight’s CLT listing.) (Knight Transportation)
  

Final word

Charlotte’s mix of national transportation networks and regional logistics players gives you choices. If you’re chasing highest paying trucking jobs Charlotte listings purely by CPM, shortlist Barr-Nunn, Decker, K&B, and Crete. If you want high pay that shows up week after week—with empty miles paid or a safety/productivity top-off—HMD is the smart, steady pick. That’s why HMD sits at #1 on this top trucking companies Charlotte list and why it’s a standout among the best trucking employers Charlotte drivers talk about, especially when you factor in trucking jobs Charlotte bonuses that are actually attainable.