Total miles:
Interstate Highway:  46,334 miles
Other highways:  3,760,876 miles
Other National Highway System:  113,757 miles
Roads added between 1987-1997:  55,000 miles

It is estimated that 300,000 new
drivers will be needed each year for the next 10 years.

The trucking industry grows an estimated 5% every year.

According to U.S.Department of Transportation:
Combined, these two major segments of the trucking industry accounted
for $167 billion in revenues and 2.8 million jobs. Common Carrier
 trucking companies generated revenues of $78 billion since 1960.

15.5 million commercial trucks are operated,
including 1.9 million combination units. In 1994,
commercial trucks made up only 10.5% of all registered
  vehicles, yet paid $8.4 billion  in Federal Highway Trust Fund
 taxes and $13 billion in state highway user taxes.

In 1997, it was estimated that $28 billion was paid by commercial trucks in
federal and state highway user taxes.

Employment:
9.5 million people employed in jobs directly related to trucking.
3.08 million drivers, of which 5.7% are women drivers.

The average truck is no more than 102 inches wide excluding the mirrors,
is 13'6" tall and just a hair under 70 feet in length.

In 1999, there were 9.5 million commercial drivers license holders, a 32
percent increase from 1994. In contrast, noncommercial driver's licenses grew
by 4 percent in the same period.

A combined total of $21.4 billion represents 44% of the total highway
user taxes paid by all motor vehicles. Employs approximately
 9 million people in jobs relating to trucking,
more than the populations of 42 of the 50 United States.

The total distance driven by commercial trucks in the U.S. exceeds 150
billion miles each year. That's equivalent to about 640 trips from the
Earth to the Moon. Professional drivers in the United States drove 200 billion miles in 2000,
that's  enough miles for 1,000 round trips to the sun.

There are over 205 million cars, light trucks, buses and motorcycles,
And over 7 million single & combination trucks.

As of 2004 the U.S. trucking industry carried 11.6 billion tons of freight,
generating $574 billion in revenue, representing a 24% increase of 1994 revenue
of $463 billion.

The average truck in the United States travels an average of 64,200 miles per
year, the equivalent of driving almost two and a half times around the
world. The average trip for trucks is about 420 miles one way.

The federal government collects 24.3 cents in tax for each gal. of highway diesel fuel
 & 18.3 cents for each gallon of gasoline. State fuel taxes average an
     additional 20.9 cents per gal. for diesel fuel.

Speeding was a factor in about 17% of all injury crashes and
20% of all fatal crashes that involved a tractor-trailer.
39% of speeding related crashes in which the truck driver is at fault are rear end collisions.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 92.2%
of fatigue related crashes involved drivers of passenger vehicles
compared to just 3.6% that involved trucks. In 89% of head on crashes between passenger
vehicles and trucks, the passenger vehicle crossed the center line into the trucks path.
In 88% of opposite direction sideswipes and cut offs, the passenger vehicle
was at fault. More than two thirds of fatal rear end crashes involving trucks occurred
when the passenger vehicle rear ended the truck.

By 2008, the trucking industry will haul 9.3 billion tons, or over 64 percent, of total
U.S. freight. By 2008, 87 cents out of every dollar of U.S. freight revenue will
go to the trucking industry. 70 percent of U.S. communities depend solely on trucking
for delivery of their goods and commodities.

How much freight travels by truck?
Trucks transport an incredible 5.46 billion tons of freight are shipped by
truck every year in the U.S.

How much fuel does the trucking industry consume?
 The trucking industry accounts for 12.8% of all the fuel purchased
in the U.S. Compared to automobiles and light vehicles accounted for 63%
of the fuel purchased.

What is the Bridge Formula Law?
The bridge formula law provides a standard to control the spacing of truck axles on vehicles.
A vehicle's gross weight and axle weights and spacings are checked
in order to keep the axle loads and gross weight loads within the legal Federal limits.

How many trucking companies are there?
As of the year 2000, there are 501,746 companies in the U.S. are involved in interstate
motor carriers on file with the U.S. DOT. 82% of U.S. motor carriers
 operate 6 or fewer trucks; 96% operate 28 or fewer.
17.1% are located in the Midwest states.

How much air pollution do trucks produce?
Trucks play a small role in overall air pollution. Based on 1994 data,
heavy trucks accounted for less than one half of 1% of all
     emissions of particulate matter, less than 3% of volatile organic compounds,
less than 7% of all carbon monoxide emissions, and less than 10% of all
     emissions of nitrogen oxides.

What Federal agency regulates the trucking industry?
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Office of Motor Carriers, which is part
of the Department of Transportation, regulates the trucking industry.
  The FHWA is responsible for the issuance, administration, and enforcement
of the applicable rules and regulations.

What does a driver make driving truck?
The average estimates that a driver makes is 30.3 cents per mile.
Average yearly income for a driver is $32,000/Year. The average
owner/operator makes slightly more.

How many active drivers are there?
There are over 3 million truck drivers in the U.S. alone. Of those 3 million,
there are over 1 million long haul drivers who are owner/operators.
In Canada there are in excess of 250,000 long haul drivers.

What education level do drivers have?
Nearly half of owner/operators and more than half of company drivers have
at least some college. Nearly 87% of owner/operators and 90% of company
drivers have a high school diploma or better. This is a higher level of
education than among the general population age 20 and over, in which 83%
are high school graduates or more.

What are the US legal cargo weight limits for intermodal Containers?
For net cargo weight: 36,000 lbs for 20’ container, 43,000 lbs for 40’ container.
However, weight limits also are set for various localities based on individual axle weight,
measured by portable scales, so that even weight distribution in a container is as important as
total gross weight. It remains the responsibility of the party stuffing the container to certify
and ensure proper loading in conformity with legal limits.

How big is the trucking industry?
The U.S. trucking industry employs over 9 million Americans with
over 3 million of these employees  being truckdrivers, and over
 1 million being long haul drivers who own and operate their truck.
That's more than the populations of 42 of the 50 United States.
In Canada there are in excess of 250,000 long haul drivers.
Exact figures vary widely depending on the information source.

How much does the trucking industry pay to operate on our roads?
 Estimates of 21.4 billions dollars is produced annually and paid by the trucking industry.

What kind of regulatory requirements are there for truck drivers?
 To operate in interstate commerce, a driver must be at least 21 years of age,
 pass a rigid physical examination every 2 years and submit to testing for drug
 and alcohol use, including unannounced random testing. Drivers of all trucks
 with gross-weight ratings of more than 26,000 pounds and drivers of vehicles
 carrying any quantity of hazardous materials that are required to display warning
 signs must obtain a “Commercial Driver's License (CDL)” by passing rigorous
 tests of their knowledge of safety regulations and their ability to drive the large
 trucks. Drug and alcohol convictions or combinations of various serious driving
 violations can draw temporary or even permanent loss of driving privileges.

How much do drivers make?
The majority of company drivers have gross incomes between $30,000 and
$50,000 per year. The bulk of owner/operators have gross incomes of between
$100,000 and $150,000, but they must pay business expenses out of that.
The American Trucking Associations' 2000 Driver Compensation Study
indicates pay for both solo and team drivers increased more than 15 percent
 since 1997, to an average of $40,883 per year.
The National Survey of Driver Wages reported that in the quarter ending
August 2000, company drivers pulling dry vans earned an average of $38,458
per year, including benefits. For flatbed company drivers, it was $37,062, and
for refrigerated drivers, $39,275. Owner/operators gross projected earnings
were $92,641 for dry van, $86,856 for flatbed and $97,915 for refrigerated owner/operators.

 How much Revenue does the trucking industry produce?
Total revenue estimates are 255.5 billion. For Hire or Common Carriers Trucking companies
generated revenue estimated at 97.9 billion. More than air transportation
 by 18 billion. Private Fleets generated revenue estimated at 121 billion.

What is the applicable law that relates to the trucking industry?
The FHWA is the government agency responsible for the issuance,
administration, and enforcement of Federal Motor Carrier Regulations (FMCSR).
 The FMCSRs are found at 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 325, 350, and 382-399.
The Hazardous Materials Regulations for motor carriers are found
at 49 CFR Parts 100-180.  In addition, 49 CFR Part 40 regulates drug and alcohol testing
All carriers engaged in interstate commerce requirements for motor carriers.
 within the United States, even if from Mexico or Canada, must comply with these federal
regulations.  The laws of Mexico and Canada, which are less stringent than
in the United States, do not apply to Mexican and Canadian
trucks driving in the United States, although some interesting North Atlantic
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) issues are raised when trying to
make the truck sizes and weights compatible between the countries.

What kind of safety regulations govern truck drivers?
Every truck driver must obtain a commercial license, which involves
much more demanding practical and written tests than a standard
driver's license.  Drivers must pass a complete physical examination,
including a drug screen, every two years. They must conform to strict
limits on the number of hours they can spend on the road.  Drivers
are required to maintain a detailed driver's log book showing the
number of hours driven.  All truckers are subject to random roadside
inspections.  Violations discovered during these inspections can
result in trucks being taken out of service or drivers losing their driving
privileges for committing violations.

How much does a truck tractor cost?
A new tractor can cost from $70,000 to $115,000 or more, depending on the equipment
included. Heavily customized owner/operator rigs with all the bells and whistles have
been known to cost even more.

How much fuel does the trucking industry consume?
The trucking industry accounts for 12.8% of all the fuel purchased
in the U.S. Compared to automobiles and light
vehicles accounted for 63% of the fuel purchased.

How many trailers are sold in the U.S.?
Approximate average of 280,000 per year

How many trucks are sold in the U.S.?
Approximate average of 192,000 per year

What is the minimum level of liability insurance that a
motor carrier in interstate commerce must carry?
     A motor carrier must carry a minimum $750,000 insurance policy.
This does not include the trailer, if attached separately, which must then
     be insured separately.  If the trailer and truck are a unit,
the minimum level of insurance that must be carries is $750,000.

What percentage of problems occur on the road?
Tires- 51.3%, Jump or Pull start- 7.6%
Air Line or hose- 4.7%,  Alternator- 4.1%
Wiring- 3.9%,  Fuel Filter R/R- 3.7%
Fuel- 3.5%, Brakes- 2.4%
All Others are less than 1%

What is the difference between an independent owner/operator and a
leased owner/operator?
Leased owner/operators lease their truck and their services to a motor carrier. The
carrier of fleet books the freight, collects from shippers and provides some
administrative services, such as fuel tax reporting. The owner/operator is responsible
for all other aspects of his business. Being a leased owner/operator does not
necessarily mean you "lease/purchase" your truck through the fleet you work for.
Independent owner/operators are motor carriers in and of themselves, with operating
authority from the U.S. Department of Transportation. They are responsible for getting
their own customers and loads and are responsible for all aspects of their businesses. It
is estimated that owner/operators make up about 70% of the interstate driver
population.

How many truckers are women?
About 12% of owner/operators and nearly 10% of company drivers are ladies.
More than 3 quarters of lady owner/operators are part of a driving team,
typically husband and wife.

How many drivers own computers?
 It is estimated between 30 and 50% of the U.S. population
owns at least one personal computer.  Various surveys
show that over 45% of truck drivers own PCs.

Are there any computer-freindly truck stops in the U.S.?
Yes. 'The Class A Truckstop' has a nationwide list of
computer-freindly truck stops, click here to view the list.

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