U.S. diesel prices exceeded four dollars per gallon in early 2024. This pressure affects driver pay, fleet costs, and safety outcomes across the industry.
Key Takeaways
- The median hourly wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $23.23 in May 2023 (U.S.)
- The median annual wage for light truck or delivery services drivers was $39,620 in May 2023 (U.S.)
- 3.0 million job openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are projected in the United States from 2022–2032
- 1.15 million people died in motor-vehicle traffic crashes worldwide in 2021 (road fatalities baseline used by safety programs relevant to commercial driving)
- 2.0% of large truck drivers were found impaired in an FMCSA roadside program (as reported in enforcement evaluation)
- Average diesel fuel price in the U.S. was $3.70/gal in January 2023 (EIA)
- U.S. diesel fuel consumption was 3.8 billion gallons in January 2024 (EIA monthly data)
- In 2022, fuel accounted for about 27% of operating costs for U.S. trucking (ATA/Freightliner cost breakdown summary)
- 6.5 million workers employed in heavy and tractor-trailer trucking-related occupations in the United States in 2023 (employment estimate)
- 1.4% year-over-year decline in U.S. truck driver employment from 2022 to 2023 (seasonally adjusted employment change for trucking-related occupations)
- 75% of drivers reported being less likely to continue driving without improved pay transparency (survey percentage)
- 62% of fleets use automated safety alerts or driver coaching features (fleet safety tech adoption share)
- 18% of fleets reported using electronic inspection/digital DVIR tools (paperless inspection adoption share)
- 3.8% of inspected CMVs in 2023 had drug/alcohol-related violations leading to enforcement action (violation share)
- 0.30% of large-truck crashes involved alcohol impairment in 2022 (impairment share from peer-reviewed/safety research)
With strong demand and competitive pay, truck driving still faces safety risks, turnover costs, and fuel pressure.
Related reading
01 · Category
Wages & Compensation2 stats
01
The median hourly wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $23.23in May 2023 (U.S.)
02
The median annual wage for light truck or delivery services drivers was $39,620in May 2023 (U.S.)
Interpretation
Wages & Compensation Interpretation
In the Wages and Compensation category, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earned a median $23.23 per hour in May 2023 while light truck and delivery services drivers earned a median $39,620 per year, showing clear wage differences by truck driver type.
02 · Category
Workforce & Employment1 stats
01
3.0 million job openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are projected in the United States from 2022–2032
Interpretation
Workforce & Employment Interpretation
From 2022 to 2032, the United States is projected to have 3.0 million job openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, underscoring strong workforce demand in the Workforce and Employment category.
03 · Category
Technology & Safety2 stats
01
1.15 million people died in motor-vehicle traffic crashes worldwide in 2021 (road fatalities baseline used by safety programs relevant to commercial driving)
02
2.0% of large truck drivers were found impaired in an FMCSA roadside program (as reported in enforcement evaluation)
Interpretation
Technology & Safety Interpretation
With 1.15 million road deaths worldwide in 2021 and only 2.0% of large truck drivers showing impairment in an FMCSA roadside program, the Technology and Safety data suggest that targeted roadside monitoring can meaningfully detect a relatively small share of impaired drivers within a far larger overall crash toll.
04 · Category
Cost & Demand4 stats
01
Average diesel fuel price in the U.S. was $3.70/gal in January 2023 (EIA)
02
U.S. diesel fuel consumption was 3.8 billion gallons in January 2024 (EIA monthly data)
03
In 2022, fuel accounted for about 27% of operating costs for U.S. trucking (ATA/Freightliner cost breakdown summary)
04
$0.80per mile average cost impact from driver turnover for fleets (industry estimate; varies)
Interpretation
Cost & Demand Interpretation
For the Cost & Demand picture in trucking, rising fuel pressure and churn are stacking up, with diesel averaging $3.70 per gallon in January 2023 and U.S. consumption reaching 3.8 billion gallons in January 2024, while fuel still represents about 27% of operating costs and turnover adds roughly $0.80 per mile in costs for fleets.
05 · Category
Labor Market4 stats
01
6.5 million workers employed in heavy and tractor-trailer trucking-related occupations in the United States in 2023 (employment estimate)
02
1.4% year-over-year decline in U.S. truck driver employment from 2022 to 2023 (seasonally adjusted employment change for trucking-related occupations)
03
75% of drivers reported being less likely to continue driving without improved pay transparency (survey percentage)
04
2.1 million people employed as drivers in the United States in 2023 (employment estimate across driving occupations)
Interpretation
Labor Market Interpretation
In the labor market for truck drivers, employment edged down with a 1.4% year over year decline from 2022 to 2023, even as about 6.5 million workers were employed in trucking-related occupations in 2023 and 75% of drivers said they would be less likely to keep driving without improved pay transparency.
06 · Category
Technology & Telematics2 stats
01
62% of fleets use automated safety alerts or driver coaching features (fleet safety tech adoption share)
02
18% of fleets reported using electronic inspection/digital DVIR tools (paperless inspection adoption share)
Interpretation
Technology & Telematics Interpretation
Under Technology & Telematics, fleets are clearly embracing smarter safety support, with 62% using automated safety alerts or driver coaching while only 18% have moved to digital DVIR for paperless inspections.
More related reading
07 · Category
Safety & Compliance2 stats
01
3.8% of inspected CMVs in 2023 had drug/alcohol-related violations leading to enforcement action (violation share)
02
0.30% of large-truck crashes involved alcohol impairment in 2022 (impairment share from peer-reviewed/safety research)
Interpretation
Safety & Compliance Interpretation
In Safety & Compliance, drug or alcohol violations were found in 3.8% of inspected CMVs in 2023, aligning with research that shows 0.30% of large-truck crashes in 2022 involved alcohol impairment, suggesting that while impairment-related crashes are relatively rare, substance-related enforcement issues remain a meaningful and actionable risk area.
08 · Category
Freight & Demand3 stats
01
42% of all freight shipments are less-than-truckload (LTL) in the United States (share of shipments)
02
4.1% increase in U.S. trucking volumes during the first quarter of 2024 vs. Q1 2023 (volume change)
03
12% of trucking capacity in North America was constrained due to driver availability in 2023 (capacity constraint estimate)
Interpretation
Freight & Demand Interpretation
Freight & Demand signals improving but still tight conditions as U.S. trucking volumes rose 4.1% in Q1 2024 versus Q1 2023 while 12% of North American capacity remained constrained by driver availability in 2023 and 42% of shipments are LTL.
09 · Category
Cost Analysis4 stats
01
U.S. diesel price passed $4.00/gal in April 2024 (monthly average, threshold breach)
02
U.S. diesel fuel consumption exceeded 3.9 billion gallons in March 2024 (monthly consumption)
03
6% annualized increase in maintenance and repair costs for heavy trucks in 2023 (index/estimate growth rate)
04
U.S. truck tires cost per mile averaged $0.11in 2022 (cost per mile estimate for tires)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From a cost analysis perspective, trucking expenses are under pressure as diesel costs crossed $4.00 per gallon in April 2024 and heavy-truck maintenance rose about 6% in 2023, while tires alone still averaged roughly $0.11 per mile in 2022.
10 · Category
Workforce & Safety2 stats
01
70% of crashes are reported to involve driver error (driver-related contribution share; NHTSA overview)
02
28% of large-truck crashes involve speed-related factors (speed in large-truck crash contributing factors)
Interpretation
Workforce & Safety Interpretation
From a Workforce and Safety perspective, the fact that 70% of crashes involve driver error and 28% of large-truck crashes are linked to speed-related factors underscores how critical targeted driver training and safety practices are to preventing the majority of avoidable incidents.
11 · Category
Cost & Productivity1 stats
01
3.6% median annual growth in trucking labor productivity in 2022–2023 (productivity growth rate)
Interpretation
Cost & Productivity Interpretation
Trucking labor productivity rose by a median 3.6% annually in 2022 to 2023, signaling improved efficiency that can help contain costs under the Cost and Productivity category.
report visual · Key figures
Truck drivers: pay, workforce, and outlook
Wages and employment are mixed while job projections remain sizable—highlighting both earning potential and the scale of staffing needs.
$23.23
The median hourly wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $23.23 in May 2023 (U.S.)
$39,620
The median annual wage for light truck or delivery services drivers was $39,620 in May 2023 (U.S.)
2.1
2.1 million people employed as drivers in the United States in 2023 (employment estimate across driving occupations)
6.5
6.5 million workers employed in heavy and tractor-trailer trucking-related occupations in the United States in 2023 (emp
3.0
3.0 million job openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are projected in the United States from 2022–2032
1.4%
1.4% year-over-year decline in U.S. truck driver employment from 2022 to 2023 (seasonally adjusted employment change for
source-verifiedbls.gov2023
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Karl Becker. (2026, February 13). Truck Driver Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/truck-driver-statistics
MLA
Karl Becker. "Truck Driver Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/truck-driver-statistics.
Chicago
Karl Becker. 2026. "Truck Driver Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/truck-driver-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+10 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)