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Truck Profile

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FINANCIAL

  1960 1970 1980 1990 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Operating revenues, totala,1 (based on SIC) ($ millions) N N N 127,314 155,713 161,806 172,743 183,153 N N N N N N
Local trucking N N N 31,397 40,903 43,830 46,589 49,972 N N N N N N
Trucking, except local N N N 74,465 89,369 91,675 97,586 103,847 N N N N N N
Local trucking with storage N N N 4,115 4,757 5,154 5,502 5,860 N N N N N N
Courier services, except by air N N N 17,337 20,684 21,147 23,066 23,474 N N N N N N
Operating expenses, totala,1 (based on SIC) ($ millions) N N N 118,968 145,216 151,628 162,825 170,998 N N N N N N
Local trucking N N N 28,049 36,455 38,695 41,325 43,871 N N N N N N
Trucking, except local N N N 70,965 84,682 88,061 94,390 98,570 N N N N N N
Local trucking with storage N N N 3,885 4,543 4,817 5,121 5,439 N N N N N N
Courier services, except by air N N N 16,069 19,536 20,055 21,989 23,118 N N N N N N
Operating revenues, totalb,2 (based on NAICS) ($ millions) N N N N N N N N 195,706 (R) 206,291 (R) 221,307 (R) 219,248 (R) 220,240 225,948
Truck transportation N N N N N N N N 150,816 (R) 158,923 (R) 168,621 (R) 165,994 (R) 167,308 171,539
Couriers and messengers N N N N N N N N 44,890 47,368 (R) 52,686 (R) 53,254 (R) 52,932 54,409
Truck highway-user taxes, totalc,3 ($ millions) 2,830 5,632 9,888 19,356 23,836 25,117 U 28,010 28,697 30,502 31,769 30,689 30,216 31,266
State 1,709 3,429 6,731 12,691 13,157 13,844 U 15,750 15,611 16,266 16,476 17,686 16,566 14,312
Federal 1,121 2,203 3,157 6,665 10,679 11,273 U 12,260 13,086 14,236 15,293 13,003 13,650 16,954

INVENTORY

  1960 1970 1980 1990 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Number of truck registrations, total4 11,914,249 4,586,487 5,790,653 6,195,876 6,587,885 6,719,421 7,012,615 7,083,326 7,732,270 7,791,426 8,022,649 7,857,675 7,927,280 7,912,018
Single-unit truck N 3,681,405 4,373,784 4,486,981 4,906,385 5,023,670 5,266,029 5,293,358 5,734,925 5,762,864 5,926,030 5,703,501 5,650,619 5,666,933
Combination truck N 905,082 1,416,869 1,708,895 1,681,500 1,695,751 1,746,586 1,789,968 1,997,345 2,028,562 2,096,619 2,154,174 2,276,661 2,245,085
Number of employees                            
Trucking and courier services, except air5 (based on SIC) N 998,500 1,182,000 1,273,900 1,384,200 1,440,000 1,482,100 1,514,200 1,568,800 1,613,700 1,630,500 1,619,800 1,590,000 N
Truck transportation (based on NAICS)6 N N N 1,122,400 1,206,200 1,249,100 1,282,400 1,308,200 1,354,400 1,391,500 1,405,800 1,386,800 1,339,300 1,328,000
Couriers and messengers (based on NAICS)6 N N N 375,000 466,200 516,800 539,900 546,000 568,200 585,900 605,000 587,000 560,900 566,600
Truck drivers and sales workersd,7 (based on NAICS) 1,477,000 1,565,000 1,931,000 2,148,000 2,321,000 2,861,000 2,542,000 2,602,000 3,012,000 3,028,660 2,983,950 2,992,700 2,867,530 2,869,770
Number of trucking and courier establishmentsa,8 N 64,756 69,796 90,709 108,971 112,887 116,861 121,111 119,572 120,687 122,713 122,669 124,481 U

PERFORMANCE

  1960 1970 1980 1990 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Vehicle-miles,total rural and urban9 (millions) 127,404 62,215 108,491 146,242 170,216 178,156 182,971 191,477 196,380 202,688 205,520 209,032 (R) 214,603 215,884
Rural highway, total 84,508 39,244 68,776 89,692 100,865 106,031 109,480 114,698 115,142 117,941 120,410 122,736 (R) 125,884 122,412
Rural interstate N 10,069 25,111 35,789 40,034 43,351 45,721 49,336 49,896 51,049 52,484 53,225 (R) 54,503 52,050
Rural other arterial N 17,625 24,789 31,331 35,040 37,056 37,875 39,193 39,724 40,691 41,649 41,838 (R) 42,436 40,564
Other rural roads N 11,550 18,876 22,572 25,791 25,624 25,884 26,169 25,522 26,201 26,277 27,673 (R) 28,945 29,798
Urban highway, totale 42,896 22,971 39,715 56,550 69,351 72,125 73,491 76,779 81,238 84,747 85,110 86,296 (R) 88,719 93,472
Urban interstate N 5,634 13,135 22,163 25,045 25,639 26,256 28,549 30,193 32,286 32,181 32,690 (R) 33,040 34,642
Other urban streets N 17,337 26,580 34,387 44,306 46,486 47,235 48,230 51,045 52,461 52,929 53,606 (R) 55,679 58,830
Passenger-miles, totalf (millions) 127,405 62,215 108,491 146,242 170,216 178,156 182,971 191,477 196,380 202,688 205,520 209,032 (R) 214,603 215,884
Single-unit truckg 98,551 27,081 39,813 51,901 61,284 62,705 64,072 66,893 68,021 70,304 70,500 72,448 (R) 75,866 77,562
Combination truck 28,854 35,134 68,678 94,341 108,932 115,451 118,899 124,584 128,359 132,384 135,020 136,584 (R) 138,737 138,322
Ton-miles, intercity10, h (millions) 285,000 412,000 629,000 854,000 996,000 1,042,000 1,071,000 1,119,000 1,149,000 1,186,000 1,203,000 1,224,000 1,255,000 1,264,000
Fuel consumed, all trucks11 (million gallons) 15,882 11,316 19,960 24,490 27,685 28,993 29,601 29,878 31,975 33,909 35,229 35,179 (R) 36,800 37,585
Single-unit truck N 3,968 6,923 8,357 9,032 9,216 9,409 9,576 6,817 9,372 9,563 9,667 (R) 10,321 10,690
Combination truck N 7,348 13,037 16,133 18,653 19,777 20,192 20,302 25,158 24,537 25,666 25,512 (R) 26,480 26,895
Average fuel consumption per vehicle, all trucks11 (gallons) 1,333 2,467 3,447 3,953 4,202 4,315 4,221 4,218 4,135 4,352 4,391 4,477 (R) 4,642 4,750
Single-unit truck N 1,078 1,583 1,862 1,841 1,835 1,787 1,809 1,189 1,626 1,614 1,695 (R) 1,826 1,886
Combination truck N 8,119 9,201 9,441 11,093 11,663 11,561 11,342 12,596 12,096 12,241 11,843 (R) 11,631 11,980
Average miles traveled per gallon of fuel consumed, all trucks11 8.0 5.5 5.4 6.0 6.1 6.1 6.2 6.4 6.1 6.0 5.8 5.9 5.8 5.7
Single-unit truck N 6.8 5.8 6.2 6.8 6.8 6.8 7.0 10.0 7.5 7.4 7.5 7.4 7.3
Combination truck N 4.8 5.3 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.9 6.1 5.1 5.4 5.3 5.4 5.2 5.1
Average miles traveled per vehicle, all trucks11 10,693 13,565 18,736 23,603 25,838 26,514 26,092 27,032 25,397 26,014 25,617 26,602 (R) 27,071 27,286
Single-unit truck N 7,356 9,103 11,567 12,491 12,482 12,167 12,637 11,861 12,199 11,897 12,702 (R) 13,426 13,687
Combination truck N 38,819 48,472 55,206 64,783 68,083 68,075 69,601 64,265 65,260 64,399 63,404 (R) 60,939 61,611
Average length of haul (domestic freight)12 (miles) 272 263 363 391 392 416 426 435 442 458 473 485 U U

SAFETY13

  1960 1970 1980 1990 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Occupant fatalities, all trucks N N 8,748 9,306 9,574 10,216 10,553 10,972 11,447 12,024 12,280 12,431 (R) 12,963 13,167
Light truck N N 7,486 8,601 8,904 9,568 9,932 10,249 10,705 11,265 11,526 11,723 (R) 12,274 12,444
Large truck N N 1,262 705 670 648 621 723 742 759 754 708 (R) 689 723
Occupant fatality rate                            
Per 100 million vehicle-miles, all trucks N N 2.2 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.0
Light truck N N 2.5 1.6 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2
Large truck N N 1.2 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3
Per 10,000 registered vehicles, all trucks N N 2.4 1.7 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4
Light truck N N 2.5 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
Large truck N N 2.2 1.1 1.0 1.0 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9
Vehicle involvement rate (fatal crashes)                            
Per 100 million vehicle-miles, all trucks N N 4.5 2.9 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.1
Light truck N N 4.3 2.8 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.1
Large truck N N 5.0 3.3 2.7 2.5 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.1 2.2
Per 10,000 registered vehicles, all trucks N N 5.0 3.6 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.0 2.9 2.9
Light truck N N 4.2 3.1 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.6
Large truck N N 9.3 7.7 7.0 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.4 6.3 6.2 6.1 5.8 5.9

KEY: N = data do not exist; R = revised; U = data are not available.

a Local trucking (SIC 4212) - Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing trucking or transfer services without storage for freight generally weighing more than 100 pounds.

Trucking, except local (SIC 4213) - Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing "over-the-road" trucking services or trucking services and storage services, including household goods either as common carriers or under special or individual contracts or agreements, for freight generally weighing more than 100 pounds.

Local trucking, without storage (SIC 4214) - Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing both trucking and storage services, including household goods.

Courier services, except by air (SIC 4215) - Establishments primarily engaged in the delivery of individually addressed letters, parcels, and packages (generally under 100 pounds).

b Truck transportation (NAICS 484) - Industries primarily engaged in over-the-road transportation of cargo using motor vehicles, truck-tractors, and trailers.

Couriers and messengers (NAICS 492) - Establishments primarily engaged in providing air, surface, or combined courier delivery services of parcels or primarily engaged in furnishing local messenger and delivery services of small items within a single metropolitan area or urban center.

c Numbers may not equal totals due to rounding.

d In 1999, the Occupational Employment Statistics survey began using the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system to organize occupational data. Therefore, estimates from 1999 and subsequent years are not directly comparable to previous occupational data.

eUrban consists of travel on all roads and streets in urban places of 5,000 or greater population.

f Highway passenger-miles are calculated by multiplying vehicle-miles of travel as cited by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) by the average number of occupants for each vehicle type as estimated by the FHWA using the Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey.

g Includes other 2-axle 4-tire vehicle in 1960.

h Data for ton-miles in 1970 and earlier is not comparable to more recent data as it comes from a different source.

NOTE

In 1995, FHWA revised its vehicle type categories. These new categories include passenger car, other 2-axle 4-tire vehicle, single-unit 2-axle 6-tire or more truck, and combination truck. Other 2-axle 4-tire vehicles include vans, pickup trucks, and sport/utility vehicles. In previous years, some minivans and sport/utility vehicles were included in the passenger car category. Single-unit 2-axle 6-tire or more trucks are on a single frame with at least 2 axles and 6 tires.

SOURCES

Unless otherwise noted, refer to chapter tables for sources.

1 U.S. Census Bureau, Transportation Annual Survey (Washington, DC: December 1998), table 1.

2 Ibid., Service Annual Survey, 2003 (Washington, DC: Annual issues), table 2.1 and similar tables in earlier editions, Internet site http://www.census.gov/svsd/www/sas48.html as of Jan. 25, 2005.

3 American Trucking Association, American Trucking Trends (Washington, DC: Annual issues).

2000, 2002: American Trucking Association, American Trucking Trends unpublished data, personal communication, Mar. 22, 2005.

4 1960-94: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics Summary to 1995, FHWA-PL-97-009 (Washington, DC: July 1997), table VM-201A.

1995-2003: Ibid., Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual issues), table VM-1.

5 1960-90: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment, Hours and Earnings, United States, 1909-1994 (Washington, DC: September 1994), SIC 421.

1994-2002: Ibid., Internet site www.bls.gov as of Apr. 21, 2004, SIC 421.

6 1990-2003: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Database, Internet site http://www.bls.gov/data/sa.htm as of January 2005; NAICS codes "484 Truck transportation" and "492 Couriers and messengers."

7 Eno Transportation Foundation, Inc., Transportation in America, 2000 (Washington, DC: 2001), p. 35.

2002-03: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, 2003 (Washington, DC: November 2003), Internet site http://www.bls.gov/oes as of Jan. 24, 2005.

8 U.S. Bureau of the Census, County Business Patterns (Washington, DC: Annual issues), table 2 (NAICS 484 and 492/SIC 421), and similar tables in earlier editions.

9 1960-94: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics Summary to 1995, FHWA-PL-97-009 (Washington, DC: July 1997), table VM-201.

1995-2003: Ibid., Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual issues), table VM-1.

10 1960-70: Eno Transportation Foundation, Inc., Transportation in America, 2000 (Washington, DC: 2001), p. 12.

1980-2003: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, special tabulation, Mar. 11, 2005.

11 1960: Ibid., Transportation in America, 2000 (Washington, DC: 2001), p. 35.

1970-94: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics Summary to 1995, FHWA-PL-97-009 (Washington, DC: July 1997) table VM-201A.

1995-2003: Ibid., Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual issues), table VM-1.

12 Eno Transportation Foundation, Inc., Transportation in America, 2001 (Washington, DC: 2001), p.65.

13 U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts 2003, DOT HS 809 775 (Washington, DC: Annual issues), tables 3, 8 and 9, and Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Query, Jan. 24, 2005.
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