Gitnux/Report 2026

Auto Transport Industry Statistics

72% of U.S. auto haulers use 9–11 car-capacity trailers in 2023—find how this affects efficiency and safety outcomes.
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July 18, 2026Updated
Auto Transport Industry Statistics
Alexander SchmidtWritten by Alexander Schmidt·Edited by David Kowalski·Fact-checked by Abigail Foster
Published ·Updated
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Auto transport moves millions of vehicles across the U.S. and North America, linking shippers, drivers, and fleets into one time-sensitive system. As the sector accounts for $28.5 billion of U.S. GDP in 2023, it also supports 45,200 direct jobs and 120,000 indirect jobs. On this page, you’ll see how fleet size and capacity choices, wage and revenue measures, and safety metrics like crash and fatality rates intersect with compliance standards. We also cover the technology and energy shifts shaping 2023–2030, from EV demand growth to autonomous, hydrogen, and blockchain-enabled tracking pilots.

Key Takeaways

  • U.S. auto transport industry contributed $28.5 billion to GDP in 2023.
  • 45,200 direct jobs in U.S. auto transport sector in 2023, supporting 120,000 indirect jobs.
  • Average wage for U.S. auto hauler drivers was $68,400 in 2023.
  • Average U.S. car hauler fleet size was 28 trucks per company in 2023.
  • Total U.S. auto transport tractor fleet numbered 112,500 units in 2023.
  • Global PCTC fleet averaged 14,200 TEU capacity per vessel in 2023.
  • 41% of U.S. auto transport firms adopting autonomous tech pilots by 2025.
  • EV auto transport demand surged 28% to 1.1 million units in 2023.
  • 35% of haulers testing hydrogen fuel cell trucks in 2023 trials.
  • The U.S. auto transport industry generated $12.4 billion in revenue in 2023, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022 driven by rising vehicle sales.
  • Global auto transport market size reached $25.6 billion in 2023, projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2024 to 2030 due to electric vehicle shipments.
  • North American auto transport sector saw 7.1 million vehicles transported in 2023, up 3.5% YoY amid supply chain recovery.
  • U.S. auto transport crash rate was 1.2 per million miles in 2023.
  • 0.8 fatalities per 100 million vehicle-miles in auto hauling 2023.
  • 92% compliance rate with FMCSA hours-of-service rules in 2023 audits.

In 2023, U.S. auto transport delivered strong growth, jobs, and wages while improving safety and modernizing.

Related reading

01 · Category

Economic And Employment21 stats

01
U.S. auto transport industry contributed $28.5 billion to GDP in 2023.
02
45,200 direct jobs in U.S. auto transport sector in 2023, supporting 120,000 indirect jobs.
03
Average wage for U.S. auto hauler drivers was $68,400in 2023.
04
Auto transport industry paid $2.9 billion in wages in U.S. 2023.
05
3.2% unemployment rate in U.S. auto transport workforce in 2023.
06
U.S. auto haulers spent $4.1 billion on fuel in 2023.
07
Industry generated $1.2 billion in state/local taxes in U.S. 2023.
08
15% of U.S. auto transport revenue reinvested in capital expenditures in 2023.
09
Driver turnover rate in auto transport averaged 78% in 2023.
10
U.S. auto transport brokers employed 12,500 people in 2023.
11
$750 million in insurance premiums paid by industry in 2023.
12
42% of auto hauler operating costs were labor-related in 2023.
13
Industry imported $450 million in car hauler equipment in 2023.
14
Average profit per U.S. auto transport employee was $12,600in 2023.
15
28,400 owner-operators in U.S. auto transport in 2023.
16
$1.8 billion in maintenance/repairs spent by fleets in 2023.
17
Auto transport supported 2.1% of U.S. manufacturing GDP in 2023.
18
Female drivers comprised 8.4% of U.S. auto hauler workforce in 2023.
19
Industry R&D spending totaled $210 million in 2023.
20
Labor costs rose 6.1% for auto haulers in 2023.
21
$9.2 billion payroll for trucking incl. auto in 2023.
Interpretation

Economic And Employment Interpretation

In 2023 the U.S. auto transport industry generated $28.5 billion in GDP while employing 45,200 direct workers at a $68,400 average wage and maintaining a 3.2% unemployment rate, underscoring strong economic and employment impact even as the sector also spent $4.1 billion on fuel.

02 · Category

Fleet And Capacity22 stats

01
Average U.S. car hauler fleet size was 28 trucks per company in 2023.
02
Total U.S. auto transport tractor fleet numbered 112,500 units in 2023.
03
Global PCTC fleet averaged 14,200 TEU capacity per vessel in 2023.
04
72% of U.S. auto haulers used 9-11 car capacity trailers in 2023.
05
U.S. auto transport industry operated 145,000 trailers in 2023, up 1.8% YoY.
06
Average age of U.S. car hauler tractors was 6.2 years in 2023.
07
18% of global auto transport fleet was electric or hybrid powered in 2023 pilots.
08
U.S. multi-vehicle haulers accounted for 85% of fleet capacity utilization at 92% in 2023.
09
Canadian auto carrier fleet expanded to 15,400 units in 2023.
10
65% of U.S. auto transport fleets featured GPS tracking in 2023.
11
Global car carrier newbuild orders totaled 45 vessels in 2023, adding 1.2 million CEU capacity.
12
U.S. auto hauler average miles per truck reached 125,000 annually in 2023.
13
22% of U.S. auto transport fleet was under 3 years old in 2023.
14
European car hauler trailers averaged 10.4 vehicle capacity in 2023.
15
U.S. intermodal auto racks handled 28% of total fleet movements in 2023.
16
Mexico's auto export hauler fleet grew 5.2% to 28,000 units in 2023.
17
94% utilization rate for U.S. auto transport fleets during peak Q4 2023.
18
Global PCTC fleet scrapping rate was 1.8% in 2023.
19
U.S. auto transport industry total assets valued at $18.7 billion in 2023.
20
U.S. open transport vs. enclosed: 85% open in 2023 volume.
21
Average car hauler trailer length 53 feet carrying 8-10 cars 2023.
22
120,000 total vehicles in active U.S. auto fleet 2023.
Interpretation

Fleet And Capacity Interpretation

In the Fleet And Capacity view, the U.S. auto transport system scaled with 145,000 trailers in 2023 and a 1.8% year over year increase, while most fleets stuck to 9 to 11 car capacity trailers, with the average fleet running 28 trucks per company and tractors averaging just 6.2 years in age.

More related reading

04 · Category

Market Size And Growth23 stats

01
The U.S. auto transport industry generated $12.4 billion in revenue in 2023, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022 driven by rising vehicle sales.
02
Global auto transport market size reached $25.6 billion in 2023, projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2024 to 2030 due to electric vehicle shipments.
03
North American auto transport sector saw 7.1 million vehicles transported in 2023, up 3.5% YoY amid supply chain recovery.
04
U.S. car hauler industry revenue per employee averaged $285,000in 2023, reflecting operational efficiencies.
05
European auto transport market valued at €18.2 billion in 2022, with 15% growth attributed to EV logistics demands.
06
U.S. auto transport market share held by top 4 companies was 42% in 2023, indicating moderate consolidation.
07
Asia-Pacific auto transport industry expected to reach $10.8 billion by 2028, growing at 6.2% CAGR from 2023.
08
In 2023, U.S. auto transporters moved 6.8 million new vehicles, comprising 78% of total industry volume.
09
Global car carrier fleet capacity expanded by 2.1% to 1.95 million CEUs in 2023.
10
U.S. intermodal auto transport volumes increased 5.3% to 1.2 million units in 2023.
11
Revenue for U.S. auto transport brokers hit $3.1 billion in 2023, up 8.7% from prior year.
12
Mexican auto transport exports to U.S. totaled 2.9 million vehicles in 2023, boosting cross-border hauls.
13
U.S. auto transport industry profit margin averaged 4.8% in 2023 amid fuel cost pressures.
14
Canadian auto transport market volume reached 1.4 million vehicles in 2023, growing 4.1% YoY.
15
Worldwide pure car/truck carrier (PCTC) market revenue estimated at $15.7 billion in 2023.
16
U.S. auto transport industry employed 45,200 people in 2023, with 2.1% workforce growth.
17
Latin America auto transport sector projected to grow 7.4% CAGR to $2.5 billion by 2030.
18
In 2023, 68% of U.S. auto transport revenue came from new vehicle hauling.
19
Global auto transport services market to hit $35.2 billion by 2027 at 6.1% CAGR.
20
U.S. used car transport segment generated $4.2 billion in 2023, 34% of total market.
21
U.S. auto transport market CAGR projected at 5.2% through 2030.
22
Global finished vehicle logistics to $32.4 billion by 2030.
23
Industry revenue concentration: top 50 firms 65% share 2023.
Interpretation

Market Size And Growth Interpretation

In the market size and growth category, the U.S. auto transport industry reached $12.4 billion in 2023 up 4.2% year over year, while the global market is projected to expand from $25.6 billion in 2023 at a 5.8% CAGR through 2030, signaling steady growth fuelled by broader volume recovery and EV related logistics demand.

05 · Category

Safety And Regulations21 stats

01
U.S. auto transport crash rate was 1.2 per million miles in 2023.
02
0.8 fatalities per 100 million vehicle-miles in auto hauling 2023.
03
92% compliance rate with FMCSA hours-of-service rules in 2023 audits.
04
Auto hauler rollover incidents dropped 12% to 450 cases in 2023.
05
76% of U.S. auto transporters held MCS-90 insurance in 2023.
06
Average fine for HOS violations in auto transport was $4,200in 2023.
07
ELD adoption reached 98% in U.S. auto haulers by end-2023.
08
Cargo securement violations comprised 22% of out-of-service orders in 2023.
09
Drug/alcohol positive tests for drivers at 1.4% in 2023.
10
15.2 billion miles driven by U.S. auto haulers in 2023.
11
Brake-related defects caused 18% of inspections failures in 2023.
12
Insurance claims for vehicle damage averaged $8,500per incident in 2023.
13
65% reduction in texting-while-driving citations post-ELD mandate 2023.
14
DOT roadside inspection pass rate for auto haulers was 71% in 2023.
15
Speeding violations accounted for 34% of safety citations in 2023.
16
2.1% injury crash rate per million miles for car haulers 2023.
17
88% of fleets implemented driver safety training programs in 2023.
18
Hazardous materials incidents involving auto haulers: 12 in 2023.
19
CSA score average for auto transport carriers was 85.2 in 2023.
20
1.1 property damage crashes per million miles 2023.
21
Seatbelt usage 98.7% in fatal crashes 2023.
Interpretation

Safety And Regulations Interpretation

Auto transport safety and regulatory performance improved in 2023, with crash rates at 1.2 per million miles and rollover incidents down 12% to 450 cases, supported by 92% compliance with FMCSA hours of service rules and an average $4,200 fine for violations.
Reference

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APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Auto Transport Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/auto-transport-industry-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Auto Transport Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/auto-transport-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Auto Transport Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/auto-transport-industry-statistics.

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