Past, Present, and Future of the Trucking Industry

PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY

https://www.ajrtrucking.com/past-present-and-future-of-the-trucking-industry/


The shipping industry is not only efficient but necessary. To better understand how necessary it truly is, it might be helpful to understand the trucking industry. 


80% of American businesses depend on trucking companies for the everyday delivery of goods. As the business of online shopping and other shipped goods continues to expand, the need for trucking and for drivers will expand along with it. 

The trucking industry in the US transports the majority of domestic overload freight. The sector was valued at $791.7 billion in 2019 alone. Furthermore, according to the data gathered in 2022, the number of truck drivers in the country is around 902,000. These metrics truly showcase how big the trucking market is already. However, the growth of the industry has not slowed down since 2019. 80% of American businesses depend on trucking companies for the everyday delivery of goods and some other operations. Therefore, the industry has massive growth potential and even a shortage of drivers due to excessive demand. 

History of the Trucking Industry

To give a little bit of historical background, let’s go back to the 20th century. In the 1900s, the impact the trucking industry had on the overall economics of the US started to grow. However, in the 1900s, trucks were essentially motorized wagons. It is also important to note that those trucks had rubber tires, which made the trips too rough and slow. In response to this, in 1916 the Seattle Chamber of Commerce financed a trip of one truck driver from Seattle to New York. This initiative allowed trucking industry stakeholders to discover that highways would play a significant role in improving the efficiency of trucks.

The history of the trucking industry took a turn in 1956 when the Federal-Aid Highway Act came into effect. This act authorized the building of a 41,000-mile system of interstate highways, which had a $26-billion approved budget plan. Nowadays, one of the fastest growing industries in the US market is trucking, with a huge amount of work opportunities for drivers and many other professionals. And AJR Trucking has a significant role in the US trucking industry due to its commitment to hiring the best staff to ensure the best customer service. 

Current Trends in the Trucking Industry

Before getting into the current market trends of the trucking industry, it is important to understand some of the rules and regulations that trucking companies need to follow. For example, there are several state and federal certificates and permits that need to be acquired before the operations of the company start. Additionally, drivers need to have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDLs) in all cases and a HazMat (Hazardous Materials) permit if they drive trucks that carry dangerous goods. 

Similar to the shipping industry and specifically the Jones Act, there are regulations and amendments with various policies that need to be upheld. See the link below for the details of the Jones Act. https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml;jsessionid=5142A83A2AAB12A25A2F9AB8A3949F92?req=granuleid%3AUSC-2000-title46a-chapter24&saved=%7CZ3JhbnVsZWlkOlVTQy0yMDAwLXRpdGxlNDZhLWNoYXB0ZXIyNC1zZWN0aW9uODYx%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7C2000&edition=2000

Recent industry news states that trucking accounts for 84% of the total revenue of the transport sector. However, the massive size of the industry comes with additional regulations that need to be followed. For example, trucks are banned from driving on certain streets due to potential harm that they may cause to the general public. 

Recently one of the major trends in the trucking industry is the growing demand for local truck drivers. This particular position is growing in popularity because the commutes are shorter, working hours are more flexible, and give drivers the opportunity to be home more often.

Another growing trend in the trucking industry is the implementation of eco-friendly practices. The increasing amount of trucks increases greenhouse gas emissions even more. Therefore, some trucking companies, including AJR Trucking, have started integrating more sustainable practices in their operations, such as using electric vehicles and reducing the emissions of air pollutants. 


In addition to the current trucking industry trends, we find it essential to mention some of the existing challenges as well. The driver shortage is the first major issue in the trucking market in the US, as many drivers started to leave their jobs for various reasons, including COVID-19, the rising number of self-driving trucks, etc. Another major issue that needs to be addressed is the security of the valuable goods that are being transported. Some of the dangers include, but are not limited to distracted driving, trucks malfunctioning, some road crimes, etc. 

First of all, all drivers need to hold a Commercial Driver’s License granted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The second important licensing requirement is getting a trucking authority, which is permission given by the government to get paid to transport freight. After the licensing is completed, there is a need to get insurance for the trucks, open a company bank account and get financing, if applicable. 

Future Trends of the Trucking Industry

According to the American Trucking Association’s US Freight Transportation forecast, the freight trucking industry will undergo a 24% increase in 2022. This will also account for a 67% of revenue increase for the trucking industry in general. That being said, many opportunities arise in the industry for the growth of different sectors. 

One of them is the involvement of women in the workforce. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) found out that men are 88% more likely to engage in careless and reckless driving than women. Additionally, many NGOs started to educate women about different career opportunities in the trucking industry, which also fostered the growth of the number of female truck drivers. 

Last, but not least, as in almost all industries, the future of the trucking industry is also being greatly influenced by technological advancements. One area of operations that is being changed in many trucking businesses is the integration of machine learning to reduce the time spent on several tasks that could be performed by the computer. The extra time acquired will give the trucking companies the opportunity to concentrate more on supporting their drivers as well as managing customer relationships more effectively. Looking even further, artificial intelligence and machine learning already give the opportunity to control and drive trucks without the human factor involved. Therefore, this is another major trend to look out for and try to keep up with in the future. 

Admin. “Past, Present, and Future: Trucking Industry: AJR Trucking USA.” AJR, 9 Dec. 2022, https://www.ajrtrucking.com/past-present-and-future-of-the-trucking-industry/.

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