Trucks moved 11.27 billion tons of freight across the United States in 2024, according to industry data compiled by the American Trucking Associations. That figure was down slightly from the 11.41 billion tons hauled the previous year, reflecting a softer freight cycle that carried into early 2026.

Industry revenue tells a similar story. The sector generated 906 billion dollars in 2024, down from 1.004 trillion dollars in 2023. Despite the dip, trucking remained the dominant mode for surface freight and a major employer.

The data underscores how fragmented the industry remains. Roughly 91.5 percent of carriers operate 10 or fewer trucks, and 99.3 percent operate fewer than 100 power units, meaning small businesses make up the overwhelming majority of registered fleets. Employment across trucking-related jobs reached 8.4 million people, including 3.58 million professional drivers.

Momentum shifted in 2026. The ATA Truck Tonnage Index rose 2.6 percent in February, pushing freight volumes to their highest point in three years, and March posted the largest year-over-year gain in more than three years. Across the first five months of the year, tonnage ran 2 percent ahead of the same period a year earlier, a sign that freight demand was stabilizing after an extended downturn. The combination of firming tonnage and a shrinking carrier base set the stage for tighter capacity conditions.

Source: American Trucking Associations - https://www.trucking.org/news-insights/ata-american-trucking-trends-2025