Must-know Trucking Industry Statistics
Have you ever thought of working in the trucking industry? Many of you probably haven’t.
What are a few reasons you should consider securing employment in one of the most important industries in the world?
Here are a few random statistics that may surprise you about the trucking industry:
- According to Glassdoor.com, in 2022, the U.S. national average salary for a Diesel Technician is $53,510/year.
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, every year from 2020 to 2030 the demand for diesel technicians in the U.S. could be as high as 28,300/year – but the industry is only predicted to grow by 13,800/yr. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
- The United States trucking industry is one of the largest revenue streams in the nation’s economy and is responsible for transporting 70 percent (or more) of all goods in the U.S.
- In 2019, the industry’s total revenue reached $791.7 billion.
- 80.4% of the nation’s freight bill came from trucking revenue in 2019.
- There were 928,647 for-hire carriers and 799,342 private carriers on file in April of 2020.
- The total number of trucks registered and used for business reached 36.9 million in 2018.
- 13.4% of all registered vehicles are commercial trucks.
- In 2019, 3.91 million Class 8 trucks (18 wheelers) were in operation.
- 11.84 billion tons of freight was moved in 2019.
- Trucks moved a total of $772 billion worth of freight in 2019.
- In 2019, 67.7% of goods moved between the U.S. and Canada were transported by trucks.
- Women make up 6.7% of the truck drivers in the U.S.
- 41.5% of drivers are minorities.
- 7.95 million people held trucking-related jobs in 2019.
- In July of 2020, the average hourly wage for employees in the industry was $26.30/hr.
- The trucking industry was short 60,800 drivers in 2018. The truck driver shortage could reach 160,000 by 2028.
- To combat the driver shortage, the industry will need to hire about 1.1 million new drivers for the next decade or an average of 110,000 drivers per year.
- The largest factor contributing to the driver shortage is retiring truck drivers who will need to be replaced with new hires, which will account for 54% of new driver hires.
- The global self-driving truck market is expected to reach $1.69 billion in 2025.
Thinking this industry is one you want to work in? View our current job openings and join the JX team today!
