Go Get Faded

If you’re hunting Kansas City trucking jobs that let you sleep in your own bed more often, you’re in the right lane. This guide spotlights the top trucking companies KC drivers talk about when they want predictable schedules, steady freight, and pay that respects your clock. In the pages below, we break down regional KC carriers and city-friendly options, compare routes and logistics footprints, and—most importantly—spell out reliable home time policies. We’ll also point you to exactly who’s best for your endorsements, experience, and preferred hauling style. And yes, we’ll call out the best mix of local KC carriers for drivers who want to be home often without sacrificing earnings.

How we ranked these carriers

We graded each company on five things drivers care about:

1. Home time discipline — Does the company publish clear expectations (daily, weekly, or defined days-out/ days-home) and stick to them?
   
2. KC footprint — Terminal presence and active hiring in the metro.
   
3. Route design — True local and regional options, not just OTR with a KC ad tag.
   
4. Pay & equipment — Competitive CPM/ hourly, premium transportation gear, and solid benefits.
   
5. Driver support — Communication, dispatch consistency, and a culture that respects drivers’ time.
   

Bottom line: Each carrier on this list offers dependable home time for KC area drivers—but the “best fit” depends on whether you want daily, weekly, or set-cycle schedules.

Quick-Compare Table: KC Home-Time Champions

The List (with details)

1) HMD Trucking — #1 for weekly-home regional in KC

HMD sits atop our list because it threads the needle between regional consistency and driver-first operations. If you want reliable home time without giving up regional miles, HMD’s dry van regional roles are built around home weekly scheduling and clear, no-nonsense pay—plus 24/7 support and late-model equipment. The company actively hires across the Midwest (including KC), and its published regional spec simply matches what drivers say they want: steady miles, straightforward bonuses, and the ability to reset at home on a weekly cadence. HMD is a reliable KC local and regional carrier with real home time.

Why it’s #1: A weekly-home promise is only as good as the network behind it. HMD backs its schedule with a strong Midwest footprint, modern tractors, and transparent expectations—giving drivers predictable time at home and consistent earnings.

2) Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) — LTL structure with home daily for most

If your perfect week is clock-in, run routes, and clock-out at home, LTL giants like ODFL are built for that. ODFL openly states that the majority of drivers are home daily, and that matches how city P&D and many linehaul bids are structured. Combine that with an expansive network and a major KC service center and you get reliability, stable start times, and a culture famous for tenure. For drivers who prefer regular shifts over variable overnights, ODFL is a perennial favorite. (odfl.com)

Best for: CDL-A pros who want union-free LTL consistency, frequent home time, and a well-oiled logistics machine.

3) Saia LTL Freight — city P&D and linehaul that get you home more often

Saia’s driver page puts it plainly: they offer schedules and runs that get you home more often. In practice, that means plenty of city P&D (usually home daily) and linehaul with frequent returns. Saia’s KC terminal gives drivers access to dense, repeatable freight that keeps dispatch tight and time-at-home predictable. If you like customer-facing work around the metro and prefer an hourly rhythm with overtime opportunities, Saia’s a strong pick. (jobs.saia.com)

Best for: Those who enjoy city work, steady start times, and a safety-forward culture.

4) Hub Group (Intermodal) — Local rail-to-road with set lanes

Intermodal is a natural fit for drivers who want home daily options and minimal dock time. Hub Group consistently posts local routes in the KC market with home daily schedules and no-touch freight—a combo that’s tough to beat if you value routine. Intermodal’s predictability comes from trains setting arrival windows; your work is largely structured around those flows, which keeps your evening plans safer from surprise delays. (jobserve.com)

Best for: Day-cab, home-nightly rhythm, and repeat lanes that feel almost like a commuter commute—just bigger.

5) Riverside Transport (RTI) — defined days-out/ days-home cycles

RTI is KC through and through, with a Kansas Avenue terminal and a menu of cycle options: 7–10 out with 2 days home, 14 out/3 home, or 21 out/ 4.5–5 home. For some drivers, having a spelled-out calendar is worth its weight in gold—especially for planning school events, appointments, and vacations. If you’re eyeing a lease-purchase path, RTI’s multiple programs can make that transition smoother without losing the reliable cadence they advertise. (Riverside Transport Inc.)

Best for: Planners who like to set their month in advance and stick to it.

6) American Central Transport (ACT) — Regional runs that keep you close

Headquartered in Kansas City, MO, ACT markets a simple promise: Always Close to Home. That’s the core of their regional philosophy—designing lanes in the Midwest and Southeast that naturally bring you back with regularity. The company leans into a family vibe, late-model equipment, and a recruiter team that speaks plainly about expectations. If you like medium-haul patterns that don’t drift into true OTR, ACT is a good match. (American Central Transport)

Best for: Regional road warriors who want to stay inside a defined footprint—and spend more time at home because of it.

7) Estes Express Lines — Local P&D built to be home daily

Another LTL stalwart with local P&D and linehaul, Estes’ driver careers materials spell out the appeal: “Local drivers home daily,” newer tractors, and solid overtime potential. In KC, city bids and dock-to-door patterns can make your schedule feel almost like a traditional 9-to-5 (with trucks). If you prefer an hourly, predictable cadence rather than variable mileage weeks, Estes belongs on your short list. (ecwr.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com)

Best for: Hourly-minded drivers who want daily family time and the stability of LTL.

Which carrier fits your week?

Use this quick mapping to your lifestyle and endorsements:

• “Non-negotiable: home every week.” → HMD Trucking tops the list for weekly-home regional with strong pay clarity and modern equipment. (HMD Trucking Inc.)
  
• “I want daily reset, day-cab vibes.” → Old Dominion, Saia, or Estes in city P&D/ linehaul; these companies are structured to get you home after shift. (odfl.com, jobs.saia.com, ecwr.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com)
  
• “Give me set cycles I can plan around.” → Riverside Transport (RTI) publishes multi-week patterns with specific time at home. (Riverside Transport Inc.)
  
• “No-touch, predictable rails-to-road.” → Hub Group intermodal local routes typically mean home daily and routine start times. (jobserve.com)
  

Driver-first tips to lock in reliable home time

1. Aim your application at the right fleet. The same carrier may run P&D, linehaul, regional, or OTR. Ask for the exact bid type you want before the first recruiter call.
   
2. Verify the calendar. Press for the literal cadence (“Is it every weekend?” “Is it four on/ three off?”). If you like 34-hour resets at home, confirm where you’ll stage them.
   
3. Map the terminal & drop-lot triangle. In KC, a smart terminal footprint means less dead time after your last stop—more home time, less windshield time.
   
4. Watch the appointment density. P&D and intermodal are full of set appointment windows; this can be your ally for routine.
   
5. Keep a “plan B” lane. Ask dispatch what happens when weather or breakdowns blow up your route. A good logistics team will show you the contingency playbook.
   
6. Read the fine print on pay. LTL/ city work is often hourly with OT; regional is typically CPM. Either way, clarify detention, breakdown, and accessory pay.
   
7. Protect the 34. If home time matters, be choosy about weekend freight. A carrier that guards your reset is a carrier that respects your life.
   

Why HMD Trucking takes the crown in KC

A lot of carriers talk about home time; HMD publishes the regional specification (home weekly) and backs it with a Midwest network that actually supports the promise. They keep a tight, driver-first operation: late-model tractors, transparent bonus structure, and round-the-clock support—so you’re not waiting on a callback while your clock ticks down. In our KC-focused comparison, that balance of reliable home cadence, gear, and communication earns HMD the #1 slot. (HMD Trucking Inc.)

FAQs: KC trucking + home time

Q: I’ve only done OTR. Can I jump straight into LTL city P&D?
A: Often yes, especially if you’re comfortable with tight urban routes and frequent customer stops. P&D emphasizes backing skills and schedule discipline. Try shadowing a city driver before you bid.

Q: Which option is easier on family life—LTL or regional?
A: If “see my kids nightly” is the goal, LTL P&D (ODFL/ Saia/ Estes) wins. If you want weekends plus higher-mileage checks, regional (HMD or ACT) is a strong middle ground. Intermodal local (Hub Group) is the “home nightly” alternative to LTL with less dock time.

Q: Are intermodal chassis runs rougher on schedule?
A: Actually, intermodal timings are fairly predictable because rail ETA windows are known in advance—great for planning dinner at home. (Stuff happens, but it’s usually not guess-and-pray.)

Q: I’m comparing “top trucking companies KC” for flatbed—who’s best?
A: In this list, HMD offers flatbed alongside dry van, but if your heart’s set on flatbed and tarping, broaden your search to KC-friendly flatbed specialists too.

Mini-profiles

• HMD Trucking — Best overall weekly-home regional. Home-weekly regional dry van with clear pay, driver support, and modern tractors. Great balance of miles + life. (HMD Trucking Inc.)
  
• Old Dominion Freight Line — Best daily-home LTL. “Majority of drivers home daily,” long-tenured workforce, efficient logistics. (odfl.com)
  
• Saia LTL Freight — City P&D you can set your watch by. Schedules and runs designed to get you home more often; KC terminal. (jobs.saia.com)
  
• Hub Group (Intermodal) — Local, no-touch, home nightly. KC postings regularly highlight local routes, home daily, and steady rail-supported flows. (jobserve.com)
  
• Riverside Transport (RTI) — Cycle-based planning. Published 7–10/2, 14/3, 21/4.5–5 patterns and a KC terminal for support. (Riverside Transport Inc.)
  
• American Central Transport (ACT) — Region-first philosophy. “Always Close to Home,” KC headquarters, and a culture that treats drivers like family. (American Central Transport)
  
• Estes Express Lines — Local P&D with daily home time. Official materials emphasize local drivers home daily and newer tractors. (ecwr.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com)
  

Final word for KC drivers

If you’ve been scanning Kansas City trucking jobs and wondering who really honors the schedule, start with your non-negotiables:

• Daily home time? Zero in on ODFL, Saia, Estes, or Hub Group.
  
• Weekly home time with regional miles? HMD Trucking is our top recommendation—reliable home time backed by a network designed for it. (HMD Trucking Inc.)
  
• Set cycles you can plan a month around? Riverside Transport makes the cadence explicit. (Riverside Transport Inc.)
  

Pick the cadence that matches your life, then apply to two or three companies that run the exact routes you want. In a market as busy as KC, that’s how you turn a good job into a great week at home.