ATA report records rise in US trucking rates

Trucking continues to be the dominant mode of freight transportation in the United States, according to a new report issued this week by the American Trucking Associations.

The report, entitles ATA American Trucking Trends 2013, found that more goods were delivered by truck in 2012 compared to 2011 levels. Trucks moved 9.4 billion tons of freight in 2012, or 68.5% of all domestic shipments, which a rise against 2011 rates.

In 2012, trucking generated $642.1 billion in gross freight-related revenues, or 80.7% of the nation's freight bills, also increases from 2011. The trucking industry paid $36.5 billion in federal and state highway user fees and taxes in 2011 – a 10.3% increase from 2009, and class 6-8 trucks traveled 137.2 billion miles in 2011 – up 4.7% from the previous year.

Large employer

There are 6.9 million people employed in trucking-related industries across the US. 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.

"Good data is important to good policymaking," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "And the data in Trends shows a dynamic, growing industry that is the literal lifeblood of the U.S. economy."

"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," said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. "The data in Trends should provide a road map for policy makers and business leaders as they continue to plot the course of that recovery."