Industry economics, employment & freight
ATA data show modest 2025 trucking growth alongside a small-fleet industry
· Source: American Trucking Associations / The Trucker
ATA's 2026 Trends report says trucks moved 11.46 billion tons of freight in 2025 and generated $936.4 billion in revenue, up from 11.27 billion tons and $906 billion in 2024. The industry supported 8.5 million related jobs, including 3.45 million professional drivers, while 91.1% of carriers operated 10 or fewer trucks.
Summary and practical context by RoadHouse Recruiting · Reviewed
Tonnage and revenue both increased in 2025
ATA reports that trucking moved 11.46 billion tons in 2025, about 1.7% more than the 11.27 billion tons reported for 2024. Industry revenue increased about 3.4% to $936.4 billion from $906 billion. Revenue growth therefore exceeded tonnage growth, but the aggregate figures do not isolate rate, fuel, accessorial, equipment-type or inflation effects.
Employment remains large, but the count is broader than drivers
The report counts 8.5 million trucking-related jobs and 3.45 million professional drivers in 2025. The broader total includes operational and support roles, so it should not be presented as a driver count. National employment totals also do not show whether a particular carrier, region or equipment segment is adding jobs.
Small fleets still dominate the carrier population
ATA says 91.1% of carriers operated 10 or fewer trucks and 99.2% operated fewer than 100 power units. Those shares describe the number of registered carriers, not the share of industry revenue or freight controlled by small fleets. Even so, they show why insurance, fuel, equipment financing, compliance and cash-flow changes can affect a very fragmented supplier base.
Cross-border trucking remains structurally important
Trucks moved 68% of surface trade by value between the United States and Canada and 86% across the Mexican border, according to ATA. The figures reinforce the exposure of U.S. carriers, brokers and manufacturers to border staffing, customs processes, labor actions and cross-border security requirements.
How to use the report without overreading it
RoadHouse perspective: use the annual data as a structural benchmark, then pair it with current lane rates, tender activity, equipment-specific capacity and carrier financials. The report describes 2025 and does not prove that freight demand, margins or driver hiring are improving uniformly in late 2026.
Understanding the update
ATA published the principal figures on October 26, and The Trucker independently reported the same release and ATA economists' warning about uneven freight and rising costs. The detailed report is a paid ATA product; this article uses only the public findings and clearly separates aggregate historical data from current market conditions.
What it means for drivers and carriers
Trucking grew modestly in 2025 and remains highly fragmented; carriers and shippers should combine the national benchmark with current lane- and equipment-level evidence.
Questions to consider
- How do the company's current volume and revenue trends compare with the 2025 national baseline?
- Which fixed costs create the greatest exposure for fleets with 10 or fewer trucks?
- How much of the network depends on Canada or Mexico border flows?
Read the original reporting
This page provides an original summary and practical commentary. The linked source contains the full reporting. Older stories reflect information available on their published dates.
Read the source at American Trucking Associations / The Trucker ↗ (opens in a new tab)