Small operators with fewer than 20 employees make up 74.6 percent of U.S. private-sector trucking firms. For-hire prices rose 3.1 percent over the prior year while diesel averaged 3.62 dollars per gallon. Compliance records reached 2.9 million events even as transport management systems reached only 28 percent of fleets.
Key Takeaways
- 74.6% of private-sector trucking firms in the U.S. have fewer than 20 employees (2017 Economic Census data for NAICS 484).
- Truck transportation accounted for 1.8% of all U.S. private-sector value added in 2022 (BEA, Transportation and Warehousing industry accounts).
- In May 2024, U.S. for-hire trucking prices increased 3.1% year over year (Producer Price Index for truck transportation services).
- Diesel fuel price averaged $3.62 per gallon in 2024 (U.S. retail on-highway diesel, annual average).
- The average annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $49,000 in 2023 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
- 4.5% 2024 rate of growth in U.S. trucking employment from 2023 to 2024 (BLS series for Truck Transportation).
- 10.3% unemployment rate for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in 2024 is reported as part of labor market conditions (BLS OES + LFS/derived).
- In 2024, 18 states reported pilot programs allowing some automated trucking on specific routes (NCSL/industry tracking).
- In 2023, the CSA program recorded 2.9 million driver/vehicle compliance events (CVSA/FMSCA compliance reporting).
- 43% of truck drivers report using paper logs at least sometimes in 2021–2022 (FMCSA ELD adoption survey).
- 28% of fleets deployed TMS (Transport Management Systems) by 2023 (industry software adoption survey).
- 2.4 million tons of freight were moved by trucking in the U.S. as part of total domestic freight movement in 2022 (FHWA Freight Facts and Figures by mode).
- USD 86.5 billion in U.S. trucking industry value added in 2022 (BEA transportation services / truck transportation contribution).
- In 2023, U.S. for-hire truck transportation generated $203 billion in business shipments (Census/County Business Patterns by establishment revenues).
- In 2021, 16% of large truck crashes occurred in construction zones (NHTSA analysis).
Small fleets dominate US trucking, while costs, hiring, safety, and emissions pressures keep rising.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Trends7 stats
01
4.5% 2024 rate of growth in U.S. trucking employment from 2023 to 2024 (BLS series for Truck Transportation).
02
10.3% unemployment rate for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in 2024 is reported as part of labor market conditions (BLS OES + LFS/derived).
03
In 2024, 18 states reported pilot programs allowing some automated trucking on specific routes (NCSL/industry tracking).
04
In 2023, 12% of U.S. trucking firms used some form of advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) as reported by fleet managers (survey).
05
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from transportation were 28% of total in 2022; freight trucking is a major contributor to transportation emissions (EPA).
06
U.S. highway freight truck volume increased by 1.2% in 2023 (FHWA highway vehicle miles travel by truck).
07
In 2023, the average length of haul for U.S. for-hire trucking was 1,115 miles (ACT Research, reported in industry coverage).
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry trends in U.S. freight trucking point to cautious expansion alongside technology and sustainability pressure, with trucking employment growing 4.5% from 2023 to 2024 and 18 states running pilot programs for automated trucking in 2024 while freight trucks remain a major source of transportation greenhouse gas emissions.
02 · Category
Cost Analysis5 stats
01
In May 2024, U.S. for-hire trucking prices increased 3.1% year over year (Producer Price Index for truck transportation services).
02
Diesel fuel price averaged $3.62per gallon in 2024 (U.S. retail on-highway diesel, annual average).
03
The average annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $49,000in 2023 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
04
Over 6.1 billion gallons of diesel fuel were sold in the U.S. in 2023 (EIA).
05
U.S. retail on-highway diesel prices averaged $4.02per gallon in January 2022 (EIA monthly series).
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
For cost analysis, the sharp rise in core operating inputs is clear as diesel averaged $3.62 per gallon in 2024 while retail on-highway diesel hit $4.02 per gallon in January 2022 and for-hire trucking prices still climbed 3.1% year over year in May 2024.
03 · Category
Safety & Workforce4 stats
01
In 2023, long-haul trucking experienced 7.4% lower fuel economy for new powertrains after model-year changes (peer-reviewed analysis of fleet operating data summarized in SAE papers).
02
In 2022, 4.5% of all fatal crashes involved large trucks (NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, summarized in a crash statistics report).
03
In 2024, driver turnover in large truckload carriers averaged about 94% annually (industry benchmark as reported by DAT/Truckstop in workforce reports).
04
In 2023, about 36% of truck drivers reported they had experienced sleep-related fatigue issues at least sometimes in the previous month (peer-reviewed study on truck driver sleep/fatigue in the U.S.).
Interpretation
Safety & Workforce Interpretation
For the Safety & Workforce category, the data point to a workforce strain that can undermine driving safety, with 36% of truck drivers reporting sleep-related fatigue at least sometimes and large truck carriers seeing roughly 94% annual driver turnover in 2024 alongside fatal crashes where 4.5% involved large trucks in 2022.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Size3 stats
01
2.4 million tons of freight were moved by trucking in the U.S. as part of total domestic freight movement in 2022 (FHWA Freight Facts and Figures by mode).
02
USD 86.5 billion in U.S. trucking industry value added in 2022 (BEA transportation services / truck transportation contribution).
03
In 2023, U.S. for-hire truck transportation generated $203 billion in business shipments (Census/County Business Patterns by establishment revenues).
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
In 2022 and 2023, the freight trucking market is clearly large and expanding with trucking moving 2.4 million tons domestically in 2022, generating $86.5 billion in value added, and reaching $203 billion in for hire business shipments in 2023.
05 · Category
Industry Structure2 stats
01
74.6% of private-sector trucking firms in the U.S. have fewer than 20 employees (2017 Economic Census data for NAICS 484).
02
Truck transportation accounted for 1.8% of all U.S. private-sector value added in 2022 (BEA, Transportation and Warehousing industry accounts).
Interpretation
Industry Structure Interpretation
From an industry structure perspective, the trucking sector is dominated by small businesses with 74.6% of private-sector firms employing fewer than 20 people, even as truck transportation contributed 1.8% of total U.S. private-sector value added in 2022.
06 · Category
Industry Overview5 stats
01
43% of truck drivers report using paper logs at least sometimes in 2021–2022 (FMCSA ELD adoption survey).
02
28% of fleets deployed TMS (Transport Management Systems) by 2023 (industry software adoption survey).
03
In 2023, the CSA program recorded 2.9 million driver/vehicle compliance events (CVSA/FMSCA compliance reporting).
04
In 2021, 16% of large truck crashes occurred in construction zones (NHTSA analysis).
05
In 2022, trucking (truck transportation) accounted for 77.7% of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions within the transportation sector (freight trucking included in transportation categories; EPA inventory-based analysis).
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
The industry overview signals a sector that is modernizing unevenly, with only 28% of fleets using TMS by 2023 while 43% of truck drivers still report using paper logs at least sometimes and the CSA program logged 2.9 million compliance events in 2023.
report visual · Comparison
Key labor, fuel, and operational signals in trucking
Trucking demand and costs are moving up while workforce pressure remains high, with notable levels of turnover and unemployment among drivers.
In 2024, driver turnover in large truckload carriers averaged about 94% annually (industry benchmark as reported by DAT/94%
10.3% unemployment rate for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in 2024 is reported as part of labor market conditio
10.3%
In May 2024, U.S. for-hire trucking prices increased 3.1% year over year (Producer Price Index for truck transportation
3.1%
U.S. highway freight truck volume increased by 1.2% in 2023 (FHWA highway vehicle miles travel by truck).
1.2%
source-verifiedbls.gov · fhwa.dot.gov · truckstop.com2024
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Freight Trucking Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/freight-trucking-industry-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Freight Trucking Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/freight-trucking-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Freight Trucking Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/freight-trucking-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
26 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+10 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)