CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for general freight trucking companies (local) in North Carolina
1,217 general freight trucking companies (local) operated in North Carolina in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 1,217CBP 2023
- Employees
- 6,654mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 11.0U.S. 13.6
- State rank
- 11th of 51by count
How many general freight trucking companies (local) operate in North Carolina
The Census Bureau counted 1,217 general freight trucking companies (local) in North Carolina in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 484110). They employed 6,654 people in mid-March and reported $284.8 million in annual payroll. That is the 11th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. General freight trucking companies (local) make up 0.47% of the 258,169 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) North Carolina has 11.0 general freight trucking companies (local), 19.1% below the national rate of 13.6. The average establishment has 5.5 employees against 6.1 nationally. Payroll per employee is $42,799, 17.4% below the U.S. figure of $51,807.
| Measure | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,217 | 46,302 |
| Mid-March employees | 6,654 | 284,101 |
| Annual payroll | $284,785,000 | $14,718,527,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 5.5 | 6.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $42,799 | $51,807 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 11.0 | 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.
Where general freight trucking companies (local) in North Carolina are concentrated
Census published local trucking company counts for 35 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of North Carolina. The largest is Charlotte, NC-SC, with 514 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 55% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC-SC | 514 | 2,626 | 17.8 |
| Virginia Beach, VA-NC | 194 | 991 | 10.8 |
| Raleigh, NC | 136 | 843 | 8.7 |
| Greensboro, NC | 100 | 564 | 12.5 |
| Winston, NC | 63 | 376 | 8.9 |
| Durham, NC | 44 | 608 | 7.1 |
| Hickory, NC | 40 | 188 | 10.7 |
| Wilmington, NC | 36 | 165 | 7.5 |
| Asheville, NC | 26 | — | 6.2 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 22 | 322 | 5.6 |
| Anderson Creek, NC | 18 | 97 | 12.3 |
| Greenville, NC | 17 | 92 | 9.4 |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | 16 | — | 25.2 |
| Burlington, NC | 14 | — | 7.6 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 13 | — | 8.8 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 11 | 73 | 9.1 |
| Lumberton, NC | 10 | 48 | 8.4 |
| Mount Airy, NC | 10 | 29 | 14.0 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 9 | 25 | 4.2 |
| Sanford, NC | 9 | — | 13.1 |
| New Bern, NC | 8 | — | 6.3 |
| North Wilkesboro, NC | 8 | — | 12.1 |
| Waynesville, NC | 8 | 20 | 12.7 |
| Elizabeth City, NC | 8 | 79 | 19.3 |
| Washington, NC | 6 | 23 | 13.5 |
Top 25 of 35 areas by establishments. Source: Census CBP 2023.
Team sizes at general freight trucking companies (local) in North Carolina
81.1% of North Carolina's general freight trucking companies (local) with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 77.6% nationally. 89.0% 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 | 987 | 81.1% | 77.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 96 | 7.9% | 8.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 63 | 5.2% | 6.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 43 | 3.5% | 4.5% |
| 50 or more employees | 28 | 2.3% | 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.
Why the phone matters for general freight trucking companies (local) in North Carolina
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.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for general freight trucking companies (local) in North Carolina:
- A broker calls about a load.
- A shipper calls to book a pickup.
- A driver calls dispatch about a delay.
Business texting for general freight trucking companies (local)
Carriers text ETAs and delivery confirmations.
Texting from a local number in North Carolina requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for general freight trucking companies (local) in North Carolina
General freight trucking companies (local) in North Carolina average 5.5 employees, so the comparison uses a 5-person team. Priced per seat, 5 users would run $150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $124.75 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $99.00 a month for 5 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $612 less than RingCentral for a local trucking company in North Carolina 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 | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $95.00 | $1,140.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $115.00 | $1,380.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $124.75 | $1,497.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $135.00 | $1,620.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $150.00 | $1,800.00 |
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 North Carolina
North Carolina has 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 910 | 785 | Eastern | 1993 | 472 |
| 336 | 783 | Eastern | 1997 | 743 |
| 704 | 782 | Eastern | 1947 | 980 |
| 919 | 781 | Eastern | 1954 | 984 |
| 828 | 724 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 252 | 695 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 980 | 463 | Eastern | 2001 | 704 |
| 984 | 295 | Eastern | 2012 | 919 |
| 743 | 160 | Eastern | 2016 | 336 |
| 472 | 106 | Eastern | 2022 | 910 |
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 North Carolina
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
Porting a number you already use in North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
1,217 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 6,654 people in mid-March.
Which North Carolina metro area has the most general freight trucking companies (local)?
Charlotte, NC-SC, with 514 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 5-person local trucking company?
$150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $124.75 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a North Carolina 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.