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General Freight Trucking (Truckload) in the US - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Samuel Moshiashvili Samuel Moshiashvili New York, United States Last Updated: November 2025 NAICS OD6146

Revenue

$267.1bn

2025

$267.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

1m

Businesses

632k

Wages

$XX.Xbn

General Freight Trucking (Truckload) in the US industry analysis

The general freight trucking industry navigated substantial volatility over the current five-year period, driven by surging consumer demand and elevated freight volumes through 2021 and 2022. This was followed by a prolonged freight recession and gradual recovery through 2025. The early-period demand surge attracted new market entrants and drove significant revenue growth, as e-commerce expansion and supply chain reconfiguration generated consistent shipment volumes. Profit as a share of revenue rose from 8.5% in 2020 to 17.1% in 2025. Still, margin growth has been constrained by inflation-driven increases in operating costs and ongoing overcapacity. The Federal Reserve's monetary policy tightening in 2023 slowed manufacturing and consumer spending, triggering a freight recession that persisted through much of 2024 and compressed spot rates despite carriers' attempts to maintain pricing discipline. Carriers responded by improving operational efficiency through technology investments. Other small enterprises exited the industry since profit turned negative. Smaller operators continue to struggle against larger enterprises that have stronger cash flows and greater access to capital. A 25.0% tariff on medium and heavy-duty trucks and their components has further complicated the operating environment by raising purchase costs and dampening import volumes at West Coast ports. Spot rates and contract renegotiations are reflecting both reduced freight demand and carriers' elevated capital requirements. Still, industry revenue reached $267.1 billion in 2025, growing 1.6% year-over-year, with the current five-year period recording a CAGR of 5.9%.

Trends and Insights

  • Investments in sustainable transportation solutions are becoming a priority in the trucking industry. Companies are incorporating alternative fuels and improving fuel efficiency standards to combat volatile diesel prices and address environmental concerns.
  • Growing warehouse numbers and terminal locations reduce travel distances for cargo delivery. This shift focuses on efficient last-mile and regional services, affecting long-distance truckload performance compared to other transportation segments.
  • Trucks operate throughout the United States in proportion to regional business activity. Urban areas have a higher demand for less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments, particularly from small companies that require frequent and varied shipments. However, LTL rate hikes are prompting more operators to shift volumes toward truckload shipments.
  • Air freight is the fastest method for efficiently shipping urgent and high-value items, such as electronics. Because of its high cost, air freight is not suitable for bulky shipments, making it less ideal for major retailers and manufacturers.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 5.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $267.1bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Elevated consumer spending early in the period led to a spike in revenue and new entrants

  • Truckers often provide dedicated freight transportation using a full dry-van trailer or intermodal container to transport a palletized load for a single customer. Rising consumer spending and disposable income levels prompted a growing need for trucking services, as the consumer and retail industries required soaring volumes of goods through the end of 2020 and into 2021.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
General Freight Trucking (Truckload) in the US
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

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

Trends and Insights

Monetary easing is expected to support manufacturing activity

  • If retail spending continues to climb over the next five years, freight volumes will likely climb as retailers expand their inventories to meet consumer demand. Manufacturing activity may also climb if tariffs do not create long-term cost inflation, which would reduce demand for equipment. Trade volumes are under pressure from tariffs in 2025, but continued pressure throughout the outlook period may decrease the need for trucking companies to transport goods to and from US ports, resulting in lower shipment levels nationwide.

Biggest companies in the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Profit ($m)
2025
Profit Margin (%)
2025
Hunt J B Transport Services Inc.
10,319.1
820.6
8.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

General Freight Trucking (Truckload) in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Long-distance truckload transportation, Moderate-distance truckload transportation and Intermodal transportation. Long-distance truckload transportation is the largest segment of the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) in the US.

Trends and Insights

Elevated diesel prices may shift demand toward intermodal and rail

  • Unlike general truckload transportation, which uses semitrailers to transport goods, intermodal transportation utilizes 40-foot ISO containers. This enables the shipment of goods using a single unopened container across trucks, trains and ships.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry comprises operators that provide freight truckload trucking. These general freight truckload carriers provide full-truck movement of freight from origin to destination. The shipment of freight on a truck is characterized as a full single load not combined with other shipments.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States include Long-distance truckload transportation, Moderate truckload transportation and Intermodal transportation.

Companies

Companies covered in the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States include Hunt J B Transport Services Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States include truckload, fuel surcharge, owner-operator and general freight.

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 484121 - General Freight Trucking (Truckload) 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

Investments in sustainable transportation solutions are becoming a priority in the trucking industry. Companies are incorporating alternative fuels and improving fuel efficie...

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 (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • 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

Growing warehouse numbers and terminal locations reduce travel distances for cargo delivery. This shift focuses on efficient last-mile and regional services, affecting long-d...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

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

Trucks operate throughout the United States in proportion to regional business activity. Urban areas have a higher demand for less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments, particularl...

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 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2025

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

Air freight is the fastest method for efficiently shipping urgent and high-value items, such as electronics. Because of its high cost, air freight is not suitable for bulky s...

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 2020-2025
  • 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

The industry lacks major companies because of low barriers to entry, resulting in high fragmentation. Low capital and regulatory requirements support the establishment of new...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Hunt J B Transport Services Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Hunt J B Transport Services Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

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

Analyst insights

The Department of Transportation (DOT) offers grants for essential infrastructure improvements that benefit the trucking industry. These grants address highway maintenance, s...

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 (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

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

Higher maintenance and insurance costs are raising expenses in the trucking industry. Tariffs could also continue to push up maintenance costs. Still, likely increases in spo...

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 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2018-2023)
  • Income Statement (2018-2023)
  • Balance Sheet (2018-2023)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2023)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

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 (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

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

What is the market size of the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States in 2025?

The market size of the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States is $267.1bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States in 2025?

There are 632k businesses in the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 6.8 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States?

The General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States?

The General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 5.9 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States?

The biggest company operating in the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States is Hunt J B Transport Services Inc.

What does the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States include?

Long-distance truckload transportation and Moderate truckload transportation are part of the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States.

Which companies have the highest market share in the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States?

The company holding the most market share in the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States is Hunt J B Transport Services Inc..

How competitive is the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the General Freight Trucking (Truckload) industry in the United States.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld 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 IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld 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 IBISWorld 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, IBISWorld’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 IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’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.

IBISWorld 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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