Freight Shipping Statistics 2026

• 72.7%Trucks moved 72.7% of all U.S. freight tonnage in 2024, across every mode of transportation. Source: American Trucking Associations, Freight Transportation Forecast, January 16, 2025.
• 76.9%Trucking earned 76.9% of U.S. freight transportation revenue in 2024. Source: American Trucking Associations, Freight Transportation Forecast, January 16, 2025.
• 11.27 billion tonsTrucks moved 11.27 billion tons of freight in 2024, down from 11.41 billion tons in 2023. Source: American Trucking Associations, American Trucking Trends 2025, August 28, 2025.
• $906 billionU.S. trucking industry revenue was $906 billion in 2024, down from $1.004 trillion in 2023. Source: American Trucking Associations, American Trucking Trends 2025, August 28, 2025.
• 3.58 millionThe U.S. had 3.58 million professional truck drivers in 2024, out of 8.4 million trucking-related jobs. Source: American Trucking Associations, American Trucking Trends 2025, August 28, 2025.
• 91.5%91.5% of U.S. trucking carriers operate 10 or fewer trucks, and 99.3% operate fewer than 100. Source: American Trucking Associations, American Trucking Trends 2025, August 28, 2025.
• $2.336 per mileThe average cost to operate a truck in 2025 was $2.336 per mile, up 3.4% from $2.260; without fuel, it was $1.854 per mile. Source: American Transportation Research Institute, Operational Costs of Trucking (reported by Transport Topics), July 17, 2026.
• 25,07425,074 entities held FMCSA broker operating authority in the May 15, 2026 registration snapshot. Source: FMCSA Analysis & Information, Registration Statistics, snapshot May 15, 2026.
• 1,077,5231,077,523 for-hire motor carriers were registered with FMCSA in the August 28, 2026 snapshot, out of 2,122,441 registered carriers in total. Source: FMCSA Analysis & Information, Registration Statistics, snapshot August 28, 2026.
• 20.2 billion tonsThe U.S. transportation system moved 20.2 billion tons of freight worth $18.7 trillion in 2023, about 55.5 million tons a day. Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Freight Facts and Figures, updated September 28, 2026.
• 74.1%74.1% of U.S. freight by weight, and 55.9% by value, moved less than 250 miles from origin to destination in 2024. Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Freight Facts and Figures, updated September 28, 2026.

Road distance between city centers, from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), checked October 1, 2026. Estimated for one solo driver averaging about 50 mph and up to 11 driving hours a day, the federal hours-of-service limit (49 CFR § 395.3). Pickup and delivery appointments, weather and traffic can add time. More on the lanes page.