An annual survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau found that revenues for the truck transportation, warehousing and storage, and courier and messenger industries combined rose 2.8% to $242 billion in 2003, up from $235 billion in 2002.
According to the 2003 Service Annual Survey, truck transportation revenues alone rose 2.5% to $172 billion in 2003, while warehousing and storage revenues increased 5.8% to $16 billion, the Bureau said.
Within the truck transportation sector, the Bureau found that general freight trucking contributed about two-thirds of all trucking revenue in 2003 – some $111 billion – with specialized freight (requiring flatbeds, tankers or refrigerated trailers) accounting for the remaining $60 billion.
The local for-hire general freight segment saw the greatest revenue growth in 2003 – rising 7.3% to $16 billion in revenues -- while long-distance general freight revenues increased just 2% to $95 billion. Overall, motor carrier revenues rose 2.8% to $161 billion in 2003, the Bureau said.
