Trucking continues to be the dominant U.S. mode of freight transportation, hauling 68.5% of freight last year, according to an American Trucking Associations report released Wednesday.
“American Trucking Trends” said the trucking industry moved 9.4 billion tons of freight last year, equaling $642.1 billion, or 80.7%, of the nation’s total freight bill.
“As the nation continues to travel the road to recovery following the Great Recession, it is becoming increasingly clear that trucking is leading the way,” the report states.
ATA President Bill Graves said the data “shows a dynamic growing industry that is the literal lifeblood of the U.S. economy.”
The report also found that:
• There are 6.9 million people employed in trucking-related industries.
• The majority of trucking companies are small businesses, with 90.5% operating six or fewer trucks.
• Only 2.8% of fleets operate more than 20 trucks.
• Classes 6-8 trucks traveled 137.2 billion miles in 2011, up 4.7% from the previous year.
• The trucking industry paid $36.5 billion in federal and state highway user fees and taxes in 2011, a 10.3% increase from 2009.
Click here to read more or to order the report. (ATA website)
