The US general freight trucking truckload industry reached a market size of $300.1 billion in 2026, according to IBISWorld industry analysis. The broader freight trucking market, which spans truckload, less-than-truckload, and specialized carriers, is estimated at $2.2 trillion and is projected to reach $3.4 trillion by 2030 at an annual growth rate near 5.4 percent.

The scale of the equipment base underlines the sector's footprint. The United States has roughly 13 million large trucks in operation, about 5 percent of all registered vehicles. The carrier population totals just over 2 million, split between roughly 1.9 million for-hire carriers and about 718,594 private carriers that haul their own goods.

Employment figures show the industry's reach into the wider economy. About 3.58 million truck drivers were employed in 2024, and 8.4 million people held jobs tied to trucking activity across driving, maintenance, dispatch, and logistics roles. Labor supply remains a constraint. The American Trucking Associations estimates a driver shortage near 60,000 in 2026, a gap the group projects could widen to 160,000 by 2028 as older drivers retire and freight demand grows.

Taken together, the numbers describe a large, capital-intensive industry that moves the majority of domestic freight by weight while facing persistent pressure to recruit and retain qualified drivers.

Source: IBISWorld - https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/industry/general-freight-trucking-truckload/6146/