5 Quick Truck Driving Facts

It’s a well-known fact that the trucking industry is vital in transportation. 72.5% of all domestic freight shipped (by tonnage) was moved using semi-trucks in 2020, according to the American Trucking Associations. Whether you’re a seasoned trucker or just like learning about trucking, here are some interesting facts about the industry!

1. There are A LOT of products to transport

That means there are a lot of different types of trucks too. Standard trailers haul the largest variety of items and are the most commonly seen on roads across the country. Flatbed trailers can transport odd-shaped items, lumber, large equipment, and more. Refrigerated trailers are needed to transport foods, chemicals, and products like dry ice.

Tankers are another common type of trailer used in commercial transportation. These can be used to haul liquids like crude oil, milk, and asphalt. Different types of tankers can haul fertilizer and bulk dry materials too.

2. Truckers usually travel thousands of miles per year

Though not the norm, some truckers drive as much as 2,000-3,000 miles every week. That equates to around 125,000 miles in only one year! In total, 300.05 billion miles were logged on all registered trucks in 2019. That takes a lot of fuel. And in that same year, 45.6 billion gallons of fuel were consumed in the trucking transportation industry.

3. Truckers can only drive a certain number of hours

Federal laws state that truckers can drive 11 hours a day, or a total of 70 hours in any 8-day period. Once they reach this number, they have to take off for a period of 34 hours. These restrictions keep truckers safe, as well as other drivers on the road. Without them, companies have historically overworked truck drivers, and truckers themselves have pushed themselves too hard.

4. There are a lot of trucking companies

As of February of 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation found there were 996,894 for-hire carriers on file with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. There were also 813,440 private carriers at that time. About 90% of trucking companies are small to medium businesses that rely on local employment. According to the American Trucking Associations, 91.5% of the companies operate 6 or fewer trucks while 97.4% operate fewer than 20.

5. Facts about truckers

It is well known that truckers can make great money throughout their careers. According to the BLS (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), the 2021 median income for truckers was $48,310 per year and $23.23 per hour. In 2020, there were 1,951,600 total truckers in the U.S., and the industry job market is expected to grow at a rate of about 6% between 2020 and 2030.

Working with Kimrad Transport, LP in Amarillo

At Kimrad Transport, we value our employees more than their hours. That’s why we offer many benefits to our truck drivers, including insurance (health, dental, vision, and HSA), retirement plans, updated equipment, and so much more. We have multiple locations as well to help keep drivers closer to home.

If you are interested in learning more About Us or Applying for a position, text or call (806) 670-1338. You can also Contact Us by email for more information.