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Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Oliwier Samorajski Oliwier Samorajski New York, United States Last Updated: November 2024 NAICS 48412

Revenue

$296.2bn

2024

$280.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

1m

Businesses

682k

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US industry analysis

The performance of long-distance freight truckers largely mirrors the US economy. Spikes in consumer spending, manufacturing output and trade volumes drive demand for the industry’s services. This correlation accounted for stagnated growth caused by COVID-19 in 2020, when a drop in manufacturing output and commodity prices led to a dip in spending on transportation needs. A sharp revival in economic activity in 2021 and 2022 amplified transportation activity. This factor and soaring fuel prices have caused revenue to soar these years. More recently, inflationary pressures and heightened energy prices have created a more costly environment, which caused consumer spending to slow down rapidly in 2023, thus hindering revenue and profit. Providers are more optimistic in 2024 as the cooling economy makes it likely that the central bank will bring down the cost of borrowing. Overall, revenue for long-distance freight trucking companies is expected to creep upward at a CAGR of 0.8% during the current period, reaching $280.0 billion in 2024. This includes a 0.3% rise in revenue in that year.

Trends and Insights

  • E-commerce growth has significantly boosted demand for long-distance freight truckers. Thanks to the surge in online shopping, trucking companies are expanding their operations to meet the growing needs of retail giants such as Amazon and Walmart.
  • Truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) battle for the best shipping method. The largest TL carriers have low profit and generate less revenue per ton than LTL carriers.
  • The Great Lakes region leads the nation among long-distance freight truckers. Chicago, in particular, is a transportation hub facilitating large shipments from out west that need to head to the East Coast.
  • Internal competition is fierce because of relatively low barriers to entry, which has resulted in downward pressure on freight rates. It's relatively easy for someone with little capital, experience or expertise to become a long-distance freight trucker.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $296.2bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

E-commerce growth has boosted demand for long-distance freight truckers

  • COVID-19 accelerated the shift toward online shopping, driving up demand for long-haul trucking services and putting pressure on the industry to scale up capacity. Even as pandemic-related restrictions lapsed, e-commerce sales have remained strong since many consumers have been exposed to the convenience of online shopping.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
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Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Economic expansion will spike demand for freight transportation services nationwide

  • As the US economy recovers from challenges related to high inflation, rising interest rates and recessionary fears, consumer spending will hike. This will prompt manufacturers to ramp up production to meet demand for their goods, necessitating freight transportation services to deliver inputs.

Biggest companies in the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Hunt J B Transport Services Inc.
15,459.0
1,295.6
8.4
Xpo Logistics, Inc.
8,176.8
302.5
3.7
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.
7,586.8
1,254.6
16.5

To view the market share and analysis for all 8 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US
Products & Services
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Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Truckload carriers, Less-than-truckload carriers and Other transportation services. Truckload carriers is the largest segment of the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US.

Trends and Insights

Truckload (TL) carriers dominate the industry

  • Truckload carriers are dedicated entirely to one customer and make door-to-door deliveries of goods, making this segment less labor-intensive than less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in the industry handle various commodities, which are often palletized and transported in containers or van trailers. Players typically provide trucking between metropolitan areas and regions that may cross North American country borders. The industry includes companies operating as a truckload and less-than-truckload carriers.

What's included in this industry?

General long-distance truckload transitGeneral long-distance less-than-truckload transitLogistics planningWarehousing servicesfreight transportation arrangement and customs brokerage services

Companies

Hunt J B Transport Services Inc.Xpo Logistics, Inc.Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 8 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

TRUCKLOADLESS-THAN-TRUCKLOAD (LTL)FUEL SURCHARGEJUST-IN-TIME (JIT)DELIVERED IN-FULL ON-TIME (DIFOT)

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 48412 - Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

E-commerce growth has significantly boosted demand for long-distance freight truckers. Thanks to the surge in online shopping, trucking companies are expanding their operatio...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) battle for the best shipping method. The largest TL carriers have low profit and generate less revenue per ton than LTL carriers.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The Great Lakes region leads the nation among long-distance freight truckers. Chicago, in particular, is a transportation hub facilitating large shipments from out west that ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Internal competition is fierce because of relatively low barriers to entry, which has resulted in downward pressure on freight rates. It's relatively easy for someone with li...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Yellow, the largest less-than-load (LTL) transport company in the United States, filed for bankruptcy in 2023. The company's high service costs stemmed from its unionized wor...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Hunt J B Transport Services Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Xpo Logistics, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 5 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Hunt J B Transport Services Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Xpo Logistics, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 5 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The US Trucking Association (ATA) is self-regulating. It’s the largest and most comprehensive national trade association for the trucking industry.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Economic conditions have severely impacted profit for long-distance freight truckers. Supply chain disruptions, diminished fuel surcharges, rising inflation and recessionary ...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US industry in United States is $296.2bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US industry in 2024?

There are 682k businesses in the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 7.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Long-Distance Freight Trucking market in United States are Hunt J B Transport Services Inc., Xpo Logistics, Inc. and Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.

What does the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US in United States include?

General long-distance truckload transit and General long-distance less-than-truckload transit are part of the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Hunt J B Transport Services Inc..

How competitive is the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Local Freight Trucking in the US
  • Local Specialized Freight Trucking in the US
  • Couriers & Local Delivery Services in the US

Complementors

  • General Warehousing & Storage in the US

International industries

  • Long-Distance Freight Trucking in Canada
  • Road Freight Transport in Australia
  • Road Freight Transport in New Zealand
  • Freight Road Transport in the UK
  • Freight Road Transport in Ireland

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?

Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?

Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

Alfabank-Adres prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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