Beyond simply moving goods from point A to point B, the multi-trillion-dollar U.S. trucking industry is the undeniable backbone of the nation's economy, driving nearly three-quarters of its freight by value while generating hundreds of billions in revenue and directly supporting millions of jobs.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. trucking industry generated $940.8 billion in gross freight revenue in 2022
- Trucks accounted for 72.5% of the nation's freight by value in 2022, amounting to $10.6 trillion
- The trucking sector contributed $1.2 trillion to U.S. GDP in 2021, representing 5.6% of total GDP
- U.S. trucking industry employed 3.55 million drivers as of 2023
- There were 1.8 million trucking companies in the U.S. in 2022
- Heavy truck drivers numbered 2.1 million in 2022
- Crash rate per million miles: 1.22 for large trucks in 2021
- 4,842 large trucks involved in fatal crashes in 2021
- Truck occupant fatalities: 745 in 2022
- Average U.S. truck fleet size: 25 trucks per carrier in 2022
- Annual miles driven by large trucks: 234 billion in 2021
- Average truck speed: 55 mph on interstates
- U.S. trucking market projected to grow to $1.2 trillion by 2028
- Electric trucks to reach 10% of sales by 2030
- Autonomous trucking market: $1.6 trillion opportunity by 2040
The U.S. trucking industry is a massive economic force facing significant workforce and safety challenges.
Economic Impact
- The U.S. trucking industry generated $940.8 billion in gross freight revenue in 2022
- Trucks accounted for 72.5% of the nation's freight by value in 2022, amounting to $10.6 trillion
- The trucking sector contributed $1.2 trillion to U.S. GDP in 2021, representing 5.6% of total GDP
- Trucking supports 8.5 million jobs across the economy, with direct employment of 3.5 million drivers
- Fuel costs for the trucking industry reached $172 billion in 2022
- The industry paid $91.6 billion in federal highway user taxes in 2021
- Trucking handles 10.47 billion tons of freight annually, valued at over $11 trillion
- Average trucking company revenue per truck was $213,668 in 2022
- The for-hire trucking sector's operating ratio improved to 95.2% in Q3 2023
- Trucking exports supported $1.1 trillion in U.S. goods exports in 2022
- Industry maintenance and repair costs totaled $48 billion in 2022
- Trucking's share of intercity freight revenue was 80.4% in 2021
- The sector imported $150 billion in truck-related goods in 2022
- Average freight revenue per ton-mile for trucks was $1.47 in 2022
- Trucking industry capital expenditures reached $37 billion in 2022
- The industry supports 26 million jobs indirectly through supply chains
- Driver wages averaged $0.59 per mile in 2023, totaling $100 billion annually
- Trucking's economic multiplier effect is 5.2 jobs per direct job
- Sector R&D investment was $2.5 billion in 2022
- Insurance premiums for trucking firms hit $35 billion in 2022
- Trucking revenue growth was 12.3% year-over-year in 2022
- The industry paid $8.9 billion in state sales taxes in 2021
- Freight brokerage commissions totaled $45 billion in 2022
- Trucking's contribution to personal income was $450 billion in 2021
- Operating expenses per mile averaged $2.35 in 2023
- The sector generated $200 billion in property taxes nationwide
- Trucking supports 50,000 manufacturing jobs directly
- Average profit margin for trucking firms was 4.2% in 2022
- Industry payroll taxes contributed $25 billion federally in 2022
- Trucking's share of logistics spending is 60%, totaling $1.8 trillion
Economic Impact Interpretation
America's economy doesn't just ride in trucks—it's built, funded, and propelled by them, moving over 70% of our freight value while generating trillions for GDP, supporting millions of jobs, and somehow still managing on a notoriously thin profit margin.
Employment
- U.S. trucking industry employed 3.55 million drivers as of 2023
- There were 1.8 million trucking companies in the U.S. in 2022
- Heavy truck drivers numbered 2.1 million in 2022
- Light truck drivers totaled 1.0 million in 2023
- Trucking workforce turnover rate was 94.3% annualized in 2022
- 70% of truck drivers are over 45 years old in 2023
- Women represent 8.1% of truck drivers in 2023
- Entry-level driver shortage projected at 80,000 in 2023
- Average truck driver tenure is 6.2 years per company
- 500,000 new drivers needed annually to replace retirees
- Dispatchers in trucking numbered 25,000 in 2022
- Mechanics employed by trucking: 150,000 in 2023
- Office staff in trucking firms: 400,000 nationwide
- Driver training schools graduated 40,000 new drivers in 2022
- Unionized drivers: 15% of total workforce in 2023
- Independent owner-operators: 500,000 in 2022
- Part-time drivers: 10% of workforce
- Veterans in trucking: 200,000 drivers
- Hispanic drivers: 25% of total in 2023
- Driver recruitment costs averaged $5,000 per hire in 2022
- Safety directors employed: 10,000 firm-wide
- Average driver age: 47 years in 2023
- Female dispatcher growth: 20% since 2018
- Cross-border drivers: 50,000 CDL holders
- Retirements projected: 1.1 million by 2030
- Training hours required: 160 for new entrants
- Logistics coordinators: 100,000 in trucking
- Owner-operator earnings: $197,000 gross per truck in 2022
Employment Interpretation
The U.S. trucking industry is a massive but leaky engine, powered by an aging, ever-changing roster of drivers who are retiring faster than we can find and keep them, leaving a concerning gap between the freight that needs moving and the hands available to steer it.
Operations
- Average U.S. truck fleet size: 25 trucks per carrier in 2022
- Annual miles driven by large trucks: 234 billion in 2021
- Average truck speed: 55 mph on interstates
- Fuel efficiency: 6.5 mpg for Class 8 trucks in 2023
- On-time delivery rate: 92% for trucking in 2022
- Load factor average: 96% capacity utilization
- Empty miles: 20% of total truck miles in 2022
- GPS usage in fleets: 85% in 2023
- Maintenance downtime: 5% of operational time
- Average route length: 500 miles per haul
- Telematics-equipped trucks: 60% of fleet
- Hours of service logged: 3.5 billion via ELDs in 2022
- Cross-dock facilities: 1,200 major hubs
- Diesel consumption: 38 billion gallons annually
- Trailer-to-tractor ratio: 2.3:1 in 2023
- Backhaul efficiency: 75% loaded return trips
- Autonomous truck trials: 10 million miles logged
- Refrigerated fleet: 200,000 reefer trailers
- Electronic logging compliance inspections: 2 million yearly
- Intermodal drayage trucks: 100,000 specialized
- Average dispatch time: 2 hours per load
- EV charging stations for trucks: 5,000 in 2023
- Peak season capacity strain: 15% overload in Q4
Operations Interpretation
Despite traveling billions of miles at a steady 55 mph with impressive 96% load factors, the industry's 20% empty miles and reliance on 6.5 mpg rigs prove that even a well-oiled machine still leaks a little fuel and efficiency on the long road to perfection.
Safety
- Crash rate per million miles: 1.22 for large trucks in 2021
- 4,842 large trucks involved in fatal crashes in 2021
- Truck occupant fatalities: 745 in 2022
- Rollover crashes: 3% of large truck crashes but 23% of fatalities
- Drowsy driving cited in 13% of truck crashes
- CSA score average for carriers: 85 in 2023
- Hours-of-service violations: 25,000 per month
- Seatbelt usage: 98% for truck drivers in crashes
- Brake-related crashes: 29% of mechanical issues
- Speeding involved in 28% of large truck fatal crashes
- Out-of-service rates from inspections: 22.4% in 2022
- Alcohol-related truck fatalities: 3% of total
- Tech adoption reduced crashes by 15% in fleets with ELDs
- Rear-end crashes: 55% of truck-passenger vehicle collisions
- Driver fatigue violations: 18% of HOS citations
- Vision zero initiatives cut truck crashes 10% in pilot states
- Tire blowouts cause 11,000 crashes yearly
- Collision avoidance tech in 45% of new trucks
- Pedestrian fatalities involving trucks: 678 in 2021
- Carrier safety rating: 97% satisfactory
- Injury crashes per 100 million miles: 102.3 for trucks
- Drug positives in drivers: 3.6% post-crash
- ELD mandate compliance: 98% in 2023
- Underride guards prevented 50% of rear crashes
Safety Interpretation
The trucking industry presents a paradox: while carriers overwhelmingly pass safety ratings and drivers dutifully buckle up, a stubborn cocktail of fatigue, speed, mechanical woes, and the sheer physics of sharing the road continues to translate over a million miles into tragically predictable and preventable human costs.
Trends
- U.S. trucking market projected to grow to $1.2 trillion by 2028
- Electric trucks to reach 10% of sales by 2030
- Autonomous trucking market: $1.6 trillion opportunity by 2040
- Freight volume growth: 2.5% CAGR through 2030
- E-commerce driven trucking demand up 30% since 2019
- Nearshoring boosts Mexico-US trucking 25% by 2025
- Sustainability regs to cut emissions 50% by 2030
- Driverless tech adoption: 20% fleets by 2027
- Spot rates volatile, down 20% from 2022 peak in 2023
- Capacity growth slows to 1% in 2024
- LNG fuel trucks up 40% since 2020
- Digital freight matching platforms handle 30% of loads
- Supply chain resilience investments: $50 billion planned
- Hydrogen trucks pilot fleets double by 2025
- Contract rates stabilize at $2.10 per mile in 2024
- Mega-regional DCs drive 15% regional trucking growth
- AI routing optimizes 12% fuel savings
- Women drivers to reach 12% by 2030
- Regulatory changes on HOS to add 5% capacity
Trends Interpretation
The U.S. trucking industry is barreling toward a trillion-dollar future, frantically switching lanes between electric dreams, robotic drivers, volatile markets, and a desperate need for more hands—and soon, more women’s hands—on the wheel to haul our insatiable online shopping habits and nearshored goods.
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