Economics and Industry Data

Trucks move roughly 72.6% of the nation's freight by weight. That is just one of many statistics calculated and tracked by American Trucking Associations' professional staff that you can learn about here.

For more on Trucking Economics, follow Bob Costello, Chief Economist for American Trucking Associations, at @ATAEconBob

Revenue:

$940.8 billion in gross freight revenues (primary shipments only) from trucking, representing 80.7% of the nation’s freight bill in 2022.

Tonnage:

11.46 billion tons of freight (primary shipments only) transported by trucks in 2022, representing 72.6% of total domestic tonnage shipped.

Taxes:

  • $29.12 billion paid by commercial trucks in federal and state fuel taxes in 2021.
  • 24.4¢ in federal fuel tax paid for each gallon of diesel fuel as of January 2023.
  • 18.4¢ in federal fuel tax paid for each gallon of gasoline as of January 2023.
  • 33.9¢ paid on average in state fuel tax for each gallon of diesel fuel as of January 2023.
  • 31.6¢ paid on average in state fuel tax for each gallon of gasoline as of January 2023.

Number of Trucks:

  • 13.86 million single-unit (2-axle, 6-tire or more) and combination trucks registered in 2021, representing 5% of all motor vehicles registered.

Mileage:

  • 327.48 billion miles traveled by single-unit and combination trucks in 2021.
  • 195.62 billion miles traveled by combination trucks in 2021.

Number of Companies:

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, as of April 2023, there were over 750,000 active US motor carriers that own or lease at least one tractor. Out of those carriers:

  • 95.8% operate 10 or fewer trucks.
  • 99.7% operate 100 or fewer trucks.

International Trucking:

  • Trucks transported 61.9% of the value of surface trade between the U.S. and Canada in 2022.
  • Trucks transported 83.5% of the value of surface trade between the U.S. and Mexico in 2022.

Employment:

  • 8.4 million people employed throughout the economy in jobs that relate to trucking activity in 2022, excluding the self-employed.
  • 3.54 million truck drivers employed in 2022 (an increase of 1.5% from 2021).

 

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