The American Trucking Assns. (ATA) said today that the latest edition of its industry almanac, American Trucking Trends, shows that trucking is still on top as the primary mover of freight in the U.S.
“This report shows once again what a critical role trucking plays in the U.S. economy,” said ATA president & CEO Bill Graves.
“Trucking continues to move the most, and the most valuable, freight in the United States, despite the challenges of congestion, regulations and crumbling infrastructure,” he added
Among the findings in American Trucking Trends for 2014:
- In 2013, trucks moved 69.1% of all domestic freight tonnage-- up from 68.5% the previous year
- Trucking collected 81.2% of all freight revenue-- up from 80.7% in 2012
- Trucks move the majority of all NAFTA trade, hauling 55.4% of all trade with Canada and 65.4% of all trade with Mexico
- Trucking paid $37.8 billion in state and federal highway user fees [in 2013]
- Truck user fees account for 43% of all payments to the Highway Trust Fund
- It takes trucking just nine days to move as many loads as moved via rail intermodal in all of 2013
- Since 2003, trucks have become greener—recording a drop of 88% in sulfur dioxide, 48% in NOx and 32% in particulate-matter emissions
- Trucking employed more than 7 million people in 2013.
“Trends is an annual almanac, a snapshot, of what the trucking industry, and really what the freight economy, looks like,” noted ATA chief economist Bob Costello.
“These numbers tell us what is happening in trucking and that’s important for industry leaders, suppliers and policymakers,” he continued.
Graves remarked that “trucking’s growth in the face of continued road and bridge deterioration has been amazing, but it is time for our elected leaders to do their part to insure that the highways we use to move America’s goods safely and efficiently are in good condition.”
American Trucking Trends is available for purchase at www.atabusinesssolutions.com or by calling 866-821-3468.
ATA reveals some detail from Trends via this video and these infographics it has posted on the association’s website, trucking.org.
