Behind every product on every shelf lies a global industry moving mountains of freight, as evidenced by the staggering $703 billion generated by U.S. for-hire trucking alone in 2022, a critical force driving a worldwide logistics market valued in the trillions and projected to grow exponentially.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the U.S. for-hire trucking industry generated $703 billion in gross freight revenue, representing 80.5% of the nation's freight revenue
- The global road freight transportation market size was valued at $2.04 trillion in 2023 and is projected to reach $3.17 trillion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.5%
- U.S. trucking carried 10.47 billion tons of freight in 2022, accounting for 72.4% of the nation's freight by weight
- The U.S. trucking sector employed 8.4 million people directly and indirectly in 2022
- There were 3.55 million truck drivers employed in the U.S. in 2023
- Women make up 8.1% of U.S. heavy truck drivers as of 2023
- The fatal crash rate for large trucks in the U.S. was 1.22 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2021
- Large trucks accounted for 5.5% of all motor vehicle crash deaths in the U.S. in 2021
- 4,812 people died in crashes involving large trucks in the U.S. in 2021
- U.S. average U.S. fleet average fuel efficiency for Class 8 trucks was 6.4 mpg in 2022
- Trucks consume 70% of U.S. transportation fuel, totaling 38 billion gallons of diesel in 2022
- Average U.S. long-haul truck travels 100,000 miles per year
- Telematics adoption in U.S. fleets reached 75% by 2023
- Autonomous truck testing miles surpassed 10 million by U.S. firms in 2023
- ELD mandate compliance hit 98% in U.S. fleets post-2019 rollout
The trucking industry powers global economies while navigating growth and safety challenges.
Employment & Workforce
- The U.S. trucking sector employed 8.4 million people directly and indirectly in 2022
- There were 3.55 million truck drivers employed in the U.S. in 2023
- Women make up 8.1% of U.S. heavy truck drivers as of 2023
- Average annual wage for U.S. heavy truck drivers was $54,320 in 2023
- Driver turnover rate in the U.S. trucking industry averaged 94.4% annually in 2022 for large carriers
- 70% of U.S. truck drivers are over 46 years old in 2023
- U.S. trucking industry supports 26 jobs for every driver position in 2022
- Europe had 6.5 million professional truck drivers in 2022
- 1.7 million Class A CDL holders in U.S. were jobless or underemployed in 2023
- U.S. logistics and supply chain occupations grew by 5% from 2021-2023, adding 150,000 jobs
- Median age of U.S. truck drivers is 47 years in 2023
- 12.5% of U.S. truck driving jobs are filled by minorities in 2023
- Annual driver shortage projected at 80,000 in U.S. for 2023
- U.S. dispatchers and logistics coordinators number 250,000 in 2023
- 45% of U.S. truck drivers report working over 60 hours per week in 2022 surveys
- India employs over 12 million truck drivers, with 90% self-employed in 2022
Employment & Workforce Interpretation
While America's 8.4 million logistics jobs prove the industry is an economic juggernaut, its 94% driver churn and aging workforce show it's currently running on fumes and duct tape.
Market Size & Revenue
- In 2022, the U.S. for-hire trucking industry generated $703 billion in gross freight revenue, representing 80.5% of the nation's freight revenue
- The global road freight transportation market size was valued at $2.04 trillion in 2023 and is projected to reach $3.17 trillion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.5%
- U.S. trucking carried 10.47 billion tons of freight in 2022, accounting for 72.4% of the nation's freight by weight
- The U.S. truckload segment alone generated $340 billion in revenue in 2022
- In 2023, the less-than-truckload (LTL) market in North America was valued at $70 billion
- Global trucking logistics market expected to grow from $3.2 trillion in 2022 to $5.1 trillion by 2032 at a CAGR of 5.8%
- U.S. private trucking fleets accounted for 67% of total freight tonnage in 2021
- The dedicated contract carriage segment generated $110 billion in U.S. revenue in 2022
- International road freight transport in Europe reached €400 billion in 2022
- U.S. trucking industry's contribution to GDP was 5.2% or $1.1 trillion in 2022
- China’s road freight market volume hit 49.8 billion tons in 2022
- The U.S. expedited trucking segment revenue grew 8.2% to $25 billion in 2022
- North American LTL tonnage increased by 4.5% to 11.2 billion tons in 2022
- Global heavy-duty truck market revenue was $145 billion in 2023
- U.S. intermodal trucking revenue reached $45 billion in 2022
Market Size & Revenue Interpretation
While we all dream of flying cars, today's reality is that the global economy quite literally rolls in on eighteen wheels, hauling a staggering $2 trillion worth of cargo and cementing trucking as the stubbornly indispensable backbone of modern life.
Operational Metrics
- U.S. average U.S. fleet average fuel efficiency for Class 8 trucks was 6.4 mpg in 2022
- Trucks consume 70% of U.S. transportation fuel, totaling 38 billion gallons of diesel in 2022
- Average U.S. long-haul truck travels 100,000 miles per year
- 91% of U.S. communities with populations over 50,000 rely exclusively on trucks for freight
- U.S. dry van utilization averaged 88% capacity in 2023 Q1
- Global average truck loading factor is 62% in Europe per 2022 IRU data
- U.S. reefer truck average load factor was 85% in 2022
- Empty miles for U.S. trucks average 20% of total miles driven in 2023
- Average U.S. truckload spot rate was $2.12 per mile in 2023
- China road freight average turnaround time is 2.5 days per trip in 2022
- U.S. port drayage trucks handle 50% of container moves, averaging 100 miles per move
- LTL shipment density averages 10 lbs per cubic foot in North America 2022
- U.S. truck diesel prices averaged $5.15 per gallon in 2022 peak
- Average flatbed load revenue was $3.50 per mile in U.S. 2023
- EU cross-border truck trips numbered 152 million in 2022
- U.S. intermodal rail-truck handoffs average 48 hours dwell time in 2023
- 60% of U.S. freight moves less than 100 miles by truck exclusively in 2022
Operational Metrics Interpretation
Despite guzzling 38 billion gallons of diesel annually with the thirst of a 6.4 mpg behemoth, America's irreplaceable trucking backbone manages to keep nearly every community supplied and trailers 88% full, all while hemorrhaging revenue on a fifth of its miles and navigating a labyrinth of delays and astronomical fuel prices.
Safety & Regulations
- The fatal crash rate for large trucks in the U.S. was 1.22 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2021
- Large trucks accounted for 5.5% of all motor vehicle crash deaths in the U.S. in 2021
- 4,812 people died in crashes involving large trucks in the U.S. in 2021
- 29% of large truck crash deaths in 2021 involved rollover accidents
- U.S. truck occupant fatality rate was 153 per 100,000 drivers in 2021
- 70% of truck crash deaths are non-truck occupants, primarily car drivers and passengers, in 2021 U.S. data
- Hours-of-service violations cited in 15% of U.S. truck crash investigations in 2022
- EU truck fatality rate improved 52% from 2001 to 2021, to 3.4 deaths per billion km
- 16% of U.S. large truck crashes in 2021 involved driver fatigue
- U.S. truck crash injury rate was 158,000 non-fatal injuries in 2021
- 25% of large truck crashes occur at intersections in U.S. 2021 statistics
- Alcohol involvement in 3% of U.S. large truck fatal crashes in 2021
- Compliance rate for U.S. truck brakes was 92.5% in 2022 CVSA inspections
- U.S. large truck vehicle miles traveled reached 307.5 billion in 2021
- Distracted driving cited in 11% of truck crashes per U.S. FMCSA 2022 data
- EU mandates ELDs for trucks over 3.5 tons since 2022, reducing violations by 20%
- U.S. truck tire-related crashes cause 10,500 incidents annually
- Cargo securement violations in 8.4% of U.S. roadside inspections in 2022
Safety & Regulations Interpretation
The sobering reality is that while the U.S. trucking industry moves mountains of freight, even a 92.5% compliance rate on brakes means thousands of trucks are rolling with potential failures, contributing to over 4,800 deaths annually where the vast majority of victims are people in other vehicles, highlighting a systemic burden of risk borne disproportionately by the public.
Technology & Sustainability
- Telematics adoption in U.S. fleets reached 75% by 2023
- Autonomous truck testing miles surpassed 10 million by U.S. firms in 2023
- ELD mandate compliance hit 98% in U.S. fleets post-2019 rollout
- 45% of U.S. carriers use AI for route optimization in 2023 surveys
- Electric truck sales in U.S. grew 125% to 2,300 units in 2022
- Global predictive maintenance market for trucks projected at $5.2B by 2027
- 30% reduction in fuel use from aerodynamic improvements in U.S. Class 8 trucks since 2000
- Blockchain pilots for freight tracking adopted by 15% of top U.S. shippers in 2023
- Hydrogen fuel cell trucks in Europe reached 500 units operational in 2023
- IoT sensors in trucks reduced downtime by 25% for fleets using them in 2022 studies
- U.S. drone delivery for last-mile logistics tested over 1 million flights by 2023
- LNG trucks in U.S. fleets numbered 25,000 in 2023
- 55% of U.S. fleets plan EV adoption by 2030 per 2023 surveys
- Platooning technology demonstrated 10% fuel savings in U.S. trials 2023
- Digital freight matching platforms handled 20% of U.S. spot market in 2023
- Carbon emissions from U.S. trucks totaled 450 million metric tons CO2 in 2022
- 40% of new U.S. truck specs include ADAS features like collision mitigation in 2023
Technology & Sustainability Interpretation
The industry is frantically coding, wiring, and digitizing its way toward a cleaner, safer, and oddly more punctual future, as if the ghost of a diesel mechanic is haunting the server room, muttering about fuel efficiency while approving the latest blockchain update.
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