CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for general freight trucking companies (local) in Richmond, VA
General freight trucking companies (local) in the Richmond, VA metro area: 176 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs an 8-person team.
- Establishments
- 176CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,419mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 12.8U.S. 13.6
- Rank
- 42nd of 798areas by count
General freight trucking companies (local) in Richmond, VA by the numbers
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 176 establishments classified as General Freight Trucking, Local (NAICS 484110) in the Richmond, VA metro area. Together they reported 1,419 mid-March employees and $55.5 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 42nd of the 798 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 1.4 million residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 12.8 general freight trucking companies (local) per 100,000 people, 5.6% below the national rate of 13.6. Establishments average 8.1 employees, 31.4% above the U.S. average of 6.1. Payroll per employee comes to $39,145, 24.4% below the national $51,807.
| Measure | Richmond, VA | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 176 | 897 | 46,302 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,419 | 5,996 | 284,101 |
| Annual payroll | $55,547,000 | $288,822,000 | $14,718,527,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 8.1 | 6.7 | 6.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $39,145 | $48,169 | $51,807 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 12.8 | 10.2 | 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.
How big general freight trucking companies (local) in Richmond, VA are
Of the general freight trucking companies (local) in Richmond, VA that had employees in March 2023, 70.3% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 77.6%). 82.3% had fewer than ten. Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 123 | 70.3% | 77.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 21 | 12.0% | 8.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 11 | 6.3% | 6.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 14 | 8.0% | 4.5% |
| 50 or more employees | 6 | 3.4% | 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.
What general freight trucking companies (local) in Richmond, VA use the phone for
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 Richmond, VA:
- A broker calls about a load.
- A driver calls dispatch about a delay.
- A shipper calls to book a pickup.
When nobody can pick up
Early-morning and evening calls from drivers are routine.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
Phone system pricing for an 8-person local trucking company
The average local trucking company in Richmond, VA has 8.1 employees, so an 8-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $199.60 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $240.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 8 people cost $159.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $972. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $159.00 | $1,908.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $152.00 | $1,824.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $184.00 | $2,208.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $199.60 | $2,395.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $216.00 | $2,592.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $240.00 | $2,880.00 |
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.
Which area code to use in Richmond, VA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 5 area codes. 804 has the most, with 461 of 489 exchanges (94%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your shippers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 804 | 461 | Eastern | 1973 | 686 |
| 686 | 19 | Eastern | 2024 | 804 |
| 757 | 4 | Eastern | 1996 | 948 |
| 434 | 4 | Eastern | 2001 | none |
| 948 | 1 | Eastern | 2022 | 757 |
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)
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.
If you already have a number in Richmond, VA, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many general freight trucking companies (local) are there in Richmond, VA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 176 general freight trucking companies (local) in the Richmond, VA metro area in 2023. They employed 1,419 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for an 8-person local trucking company?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 8 users cost $240.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $199.60 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $159.00.
What area code should a local trucking company in Richmond, VA use?
Area code 804 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 686 and 757. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a local trucking company?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.