A new report indicates that transportation flourished in 2022.
According to the most recent edition of American Trucking Associations' American Trucking Trends 2023, trucks moved more than 11,400 million loads of freight and generated more than $940 billion last year, both increases from the year before.
"While 2022 was a difficult year for the trucking industry in many ways, revenue, tonnage, employment, and a number of other metrics all increased," said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. In terms of both freight revenue and tonnage, the haulage industry remained the country's preeminent mode of transportation.
Among the findings in 2022's Trends:
- Trucks transported 11.46 billion tons of cargo, up from 10.93 billion tons the year before.
- The industry collected 80.7% of the nation's freight expenses, totaling $940,8 billion.
- The trucking industry employed 8.4 million people in industry-related positions, an increase of 405,000 from the year before, including 3.54 million professional truck drivers.
- 8.1% of the nation's drivers were female, a record high and the seventh consecutive annual increase.
- 18.3% of drivers identified as Black, 4% as Asian, and 23.3% as Hispanic or Latino, according to trends detailing the racial/ethnic background of drivers.
- Trucking continues to be a minor business sector: 95.8% of fleets operate fewer than 10 vehicles, and 99.7% operate fewer than 100.
- 61% of the value of surface commerce between the United States and Canada and 83% of cross-border trade with Mexico, a total of $947.92 billion worth of goods, were transported by truck.
"As government and business leaders make decisions that determine the trajectory of our economy, the data in these pages can help drive those decisions," said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. "Trends has a place on the most influential desks, providing actionable insights to elected officials, regulators, industry insiders, and economic analysts." "This is your guide to an industry that embodies the true meaning of essential."
