TRUCKING INDUSTRY STATISTICS A collection of current statistics that TCA members can use when invited to give speeches about the trucking industry. Data comes from American Trucking Trends 2008-2009, published by the American Trucking Associations

Good stuff. Trucks Bring by the truckload. What does this mean? From food to medicine to books and toys, trucks deliver virtually everything good we use in our lives. More than 80% of U.S. communities rely entirely on trucks to deliver goods to them. After all, railroads can’t deliver to grocery stores, cargo ships can’t get cars to the lots, and airplanes can’t get medicine to pharmacies.

Trucking and the Economy

Trucking Is Integral to a Strong U.S. Economy Trucks hauled 69% of all the tons of freight transported in the U.S. in 2006. That’s the equivalent of 10.7 billion tons! Trucks hauled 69% of all the tons of freight transported in the U.S. in 2006. That’s the equivalent of 10.7 billion tons!

Domestic The trucking industry was an astounding $645.6 billion industry in 2006. This represents 83.8% of the nation’s freight bill, or 83.8 cents of every dollar spent on domestic freight transportation! Trucks are the primary arteries of U.S. commerce. We literally deliver for America. Trucking was an astounding $645.6 billion industry in 2006. This represents 83.8% of the nation’s freight bill, or 83.8 cents of every dollar spent on domestic freight transportation.

International In 2007, trucks hauled nearly 58% of the goods (in terms of value) shipped between the U.S. and Canada. Trucks hauled more than 66% of the goods shipped between the U.S. and Mexico. Imported goods from China and other countries overseas are moved multiple times from port to final destination – via truck. Trucking is the vital transportation link not only for domestic goods, but also international products. Trucks are responsible for an enormous amount of trade that flows over our northern and southern borders. In 2007, trucks hauled nearly 58% of the goods (in terms of value) shipped between the U.S. and Canada. Trucks hauled more than 66% of the goods shipped between the U.S. and Mexico. Additionally, imported goods from overseas (places like China) are moved multiple times from port to final destination. As the North American economies become more interrelated, as well as global, trucking’s importance in international trade should only grow.

Trucking is a Major Employer Across all industries, 8.9 million people were employed in trucking-related jobs in 2007. Nearly 3.5 million were professional truck drivers. In addition to moving the U.S. economy, we also account for a good chunk of it ourselves. Across all industries, 8.9 million people were employed in trucking-related jobs in 2007. Nearly 3.5 million of those workers were professional truck drivers.

We Pay Our Fair Share of Taxes Commercial trucks paid $37.4 billion in federal and state highway-user taxes in 2006. Commercial trucks make up 12.5% of all registered vehicles, but paid 36.5% of total highway-user taxes in 2006. (That’s $17.8 billion in federal highway-user taxes and $19.6 billion in state highway-user taxes.) In January 2008, the average cost in taxes for a 5-axle tractor trailer was $5,035, up 0.5% from January 2007. Commercial trucks paid $37.4 billion in federal and state highway-user taxes in 2006. Commercial trucks make up 12.5% of all registered vehicles, but paid 36.5% of total highway-user taxes, or $17.8 billion in federal highway-user taxes and $19.6 billion in state highway-user taxes, in 2006. In January 2008, the average cost in taxes for a 5-axle tractor trailer was $5,035, up 0.5% from January 2007.

Overview of the Industry

Number of Trucks 29.9 million trucks were registered and used for business purposes in 2006 (excluding government and farm). Of these, 3 million were Class 8 trucks. 5.6 million commercial trailers were registered in 2006. In 2006, there were 29.9 million trucks registered and used for business purposes (excluding government and farm), representing 28.3% of all trucks registered. 3 million Class 8 trucks were used for business purposes (excluding government and farm) in 2006. 5.6 million commercial trailers were registered in 2006.

Types of Carriers In June 2008, there were more than 600,000 U.S. interstate motor carriers in the United States (source: U.S. Department of Transportation). This figure incorporates all types of fleets, including for-hire (both truckload and less-than-truckload), private carriers, and owner-operators. Over 35% were for-hire carriers. Source: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation

Size of Carriers The trucking industry is primarily comprised of small carriers. 87% of carriers operate 6 or fewer trucks. 96% of carriers operate fleets of 20 or fewer trucks.

Professional Truck Drivers According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, the number of professional truck drivers in the U.S. decreased to 3.46 million in 2007. This was a decline of 15,000, or 0.4%, from 2006. Despite overall decreases in the number of drivers, the number of female drivers increased 2,680 during 2007. The percentage of minority drivers rose from 31.1% in 2006 to 32.7% in 2007, as the number of Asian and Hispanic drivers entering the driver pool increased 16.2% and 8.9%, respectively. Source for both charts: Employment and Earnings – Household Data, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Labor

Driving for the Long Haul Class 8 trucks drove a total of 139.3 billion miles in 2006. The average Class 8 professional truck driver drove 46,000 miles in 2006, although many travel in excess of 100,000 miles each year. Class 8 trucks drove a total of 139.3 billion miles in 2006. The average Class 8 truck drove 46,000 miles in 2006, although many travel in excess of 100,000 miles each year.

Our Priorities

Putting Safety First No one takes highway safety more seriously than those who make their living behind the wheel. Professional truck drivers, as a class, have the safest driving records of anyone on the road today. No one takes highway safety more seriously than those who make their living behind the wheel. Professional truck drivers, as a class, have the safest driving records of anyone on the road today – bar none.

Top-Notch Safety Equipment Common Safety Equipment: Collision avoidance systems Rear vision cameras Bright reflective tape on trailers Automatic brake adjusters Balanced braking systems between trucks and trailers Rear under-ride guards Mid-side mounted trailer turn signals The trucking industry has been proactive in developing and implementing new technologies that can increase efficiency while making our trucks safer. Many technologies were first used voluntarily by the trucking industry, and later required by regulators. This slide describes just a few of the many types of safety equipment available for tractor trailers.

Large Truck Fatal Crash Rate Dropped 19.5% Over a Decade From 1997 to 2006, the number of miles traveled by large trucks jumped 16.5%, while the number of large truck fatal accidents dropped 6.4% during the same period. Consequently, the large truck fatal crash rate, which is the number of fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, plunged 19.5% during the 10-year period. Sources: Large Truck Crash Facts, 2006, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation; Highway Operations, American Trucking Associations

Maintain Near-Perfect Alcohol Record High Blood Alcohol Content (BAC = 0.08+)* Drivers in Fatal Crashes by Vehicle Type Year Motorcycles Passenger Cars Light Trucks/ Vans Heavy Trucks 1997 32.4% 21.6% 22.6% 1.7% 1998 34.4% 21.3% 22.2% 1.5% 1999 32.8% 22.3% 2000 31.8% 23.6% 2001 29.2% 22.7% 1.2% 2002 30.9% 22.4% 23.1% 2003 29.1% 22.0% 21.5% 1.4% 2004 27.1% 22.9% 1.1% 2005 27.0% 23.5% 2006 26.6% 23.7% High blood alcohol content in professional truck drivers was reported as a factor in only 1.5% of fatal accidents involving large trucks in 2006. This percentage is considerably lower than those for drivers of other vehicles involved in fatal crashes. Over the past ten years, the percentage of time that alcohol was a factor in a fatal crash remained below 1.8% for drivers of heavy trucks. Blue = revised annual data High BAC (intoxication) was lowered to 0.08+ from 0.10+ as of 2001. Sources: Large Truck Crash Facts, 2006, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, U.S. DOT; Highway Operations, American Trucking Associations

Conserve Fuel In 2006, combination trucks consumed nearly 47 billion fewer gallons of fuel than passenger vehicles, and only 16% of the total, while traveling just 8.5% of the miles traveled by passenger cars. In 2006, combination trucks consumed nearly 47 billion fewer gallons of fuel than passenger vehicles, and only 16% of the total, while traveling just 8.5% of the miles traveled by passenger cars.

Keep Our Air Clean Highway vehicles release fewer emissions than they did ten years ago, and account for only a small percentage of overall air pollution. This chart shows how highway vehicle sulfur dioxide emissions in 2007 were 70% lower than in 1998. If we were to show you graphs for nitrogen oxide emissions, volatile organic compounds emissions, and particulate matter emissions by highway vehicles during the same time frame, the charts would all look very similar (distinct, steady downward trend from 1998 to 2007). Note: Highway Vehicles includes light-duty gasoline vehicles and trucks; light-duty diesel vehicles and trucks; heavy-duty gasoline vehicles; and heavy-duty diesel vehicles. Sources: National Emissions Inventory Air Pollutant Emissions Trends Data, 1970-2007, Office of Air Quality, Environmental Protection Agency; American Trucking Associations.

About This Presentation Name of your company Your name and title Address Phone Fax Web site It’s been a real pleasure providing you with this overview of the trucking industry. Please feel free to contact me with further questions or comments.