CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for general freight trucking companies (local) in Alabama
349 general freight trucking companies (local) operated in Alabama in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 349CBP 2023
- Employees
- 2,328mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 6.8U.S. 13.6
- State rank
- 28th of 51by count
How many general freight trucking companies (local) operate in Alabama
The Census Bureau counted 349 general freight trucking companies (local) in Alabama in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 484110). They employed 2,328 people in mid-March and reported $112.1 million in annual payroll. That is the 28th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. General freight trucking companies (local) make up 0.33% of the 105,720 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Alabama has 6.8 general freight trucking companies (local), 50.3% below the national rate of 13.6. The average establishment has 6.7 employees against 6.1 nationally. Payroll per employee is $48,165, 7.0% below the U.S. figure of $51,807.
| Measure | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 349 | 46,302 |
| Mid-March employees | 2,328 | 284,101 |
| Annual payroll | $112,128,000 | $14,718,527,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 6.7 | 6.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $48,165 | $51,807 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 6.8 | 13.6 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
General freight trucking companies (local) by metro area in Alabama
Census published local trucking company counts for 22 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Alabama. The largest is Birmingham, AL, with 63 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 81% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 63 | — | 5.3 |
| Mobile, AL | 34 | 426 | 8.2 |
| Huntsville, AL | 24 | 170 | 4.4 |
| Montgomery, AL | 23 | 311 | 5.9 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 21 | 69 | 7.4 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 18 | 105 | 5.5 |
| Auburn, AL | 15 | 102 | 7.3 |
| Dothan, AL | 15 | 140 | 9.7 |
| Daphne, AL | 12 | — | 4.6 |
| Decatur, AL | 11 | 70 | 6.9 |
| LaGrange, GA-AL | 10 | — | 9.5 |
| Anniston, AL | 9 | — | 7.7 |
| Florence, AL | 8 | — | 5.1 |
| Albertville, AL | 8 | 97 | 7.8 |
| Talladega, AL | 7 | 83 | 7.6 |
| Cullman, AL | 6 | — | 6.5 |
| Fort Payne, AL | 6 | 4 | 8.2 |
| Alexander City, AL | 5 | 69 | 12.3 |
| Selma, AL | 5 | 12 | 14.1 |
| Gadsden, AL | 4 | — | 3.9 |
| Enterprise, AL | 4 | — | 7.1 |
| Ozark, AL | 3 | 2 | 6.0 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at general freight trucking companies (local) in Alabama
72.3% of Alabama's general freight trucking companies (local) with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 77.6% nationally. 83.6% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 251 | 72.3% | 77.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 39 | 11.2% | 8.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 27 | 7.8% | 6.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 26 | 7.5% | 4.5% |
| 50 or more employees | 4 | 1.2% | 2.2% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a local trucking company in Alabama has to catch
Local freight carriers coordinate drivers, shippers and receivers throughout the day. Dispatchers need calls routed to them and drivers need to call from the road with a business number.
A few of the calls that come in to general freight trucking companies (local) in Alabama:
- A shipper calls to book a pickup.
- Dispatch calls a customer with an ETA.
- A broker calls about a load.
Texting shippers
Carriers text ETAs and delivery confirmations.
Texting from a local number in Alabama requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for general freight trucking companies (local) in Alabama
General freight trucking companies (local) in Alabama average 6.7 employees, so the comparison uses a 7-person team. Priced per seat, 7 users would run $210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $139.00 a month for 7 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $852 less than RingCentral for a local trucking company in Alabama of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $139.00 | $1,668.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $133.00 | $1,596.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $161.00 | $1,932.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $174.65 | $2,095.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $189.00 | $2,268.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $210.00 | $2,520.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Alabama
Alabama has 7 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a local trucking company can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 256 | 786 | Central | 1998 | 938 |
| 205 | 785 | Central | 1947 | 659 |
| 334 | 784 | Central | 1995 | 483 |
| 251 | 528 | Central | 2001 | none |
| 938 | 193 | Central | 2010 | 256 |
| 659 | 177 | Central | 2019 | 205 |
| 483 | 11 | Central | 2026 | 334 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for general freight trucking companies (local) in Alabama
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Alabama is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many general freight trucking companies (local) are in Alabama?
349 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 2,328 people in mid-March.
Which Alabama metro area has the most general freight trucking companies (local)?
Birmingham, AL, with 63 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 7-person local trucking company?
$210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $139.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Alabama number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.