Trucking

The US trucking industry includes about 110,000 for-hire carriers and 350,000 independent owner-operators with combined annual revenue of nearly $200 billion. Major companies include YRC Worldwide, Swift Transportation, JB Hunt, and Con-way. The industry is fragmented: the 50 largest companies account for less than 30 percent of the market.

The industry is comprised of carriers that transport commodities for shippers using a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). The industry doesn't include the US Postal Service (USPS); couriers (such as the express delivery operations of UPS and FedEx); or private carriers (companies that transport their own products and raw materials).

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by consumer spending and manufacturing output. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations. Large companies have advantages in account relationships, bulk fuel purchasing, fleet size, and access to drivers. Small operations can compete effectively by providing quick turnaround, serving a local market, or transporting unusually sized goods. Average annual revenue per employee is $135,000.

Trucking competes with other forms of cargo transportation, including rail, air, and water. However, the shift toward intermodal transportation means that these modes of delivery are often more complementary than competitive.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major services include long-distance trucking (70 percent of industry revenue) and local trucking (30 percent). The industry hauls over 10 billion tons of goods annually, representing 60 percent of the total volume and 70 percent of value of all US commercial freight activity. Including ...