Cargo Statistics

U.S. Trucking Statistics Overview

Explore what U.S. trucking companies haul — cargo categories, specialization, and how fleet size varies by cargo type. Data sourced from FMCSA SAFER records for active U.S. motor carriers.

Data updated: July 10, 2026 Updated weekly

663,856

General Freight Carriers

53.2% of all active companies

Construction

Top Specialized Cargo

159,304 companies (12.8% of all active)

2.2

Avg Cargo Types

Among companies reporting cargo types

Jul 10, 2026

Data As Of

Updated weekly from FMCSA SAFER

Cargo Types by Company Count

% = of all active companies

General Freight

663,856 (53.2%)

Construction

159,304 (12.8%)

Building Materials

146,853 (11.8%)

Motor Vehicles

116,587 (9.3%)

Machinery & Large Objects

104,230 (8.4%)

Grain/Feed/Hay

93,360 (7.5%)

Logs/Poles/Beams/Lumber

88,992 (7.1%)

Farm Supplies

66,935 (5.4%)

Paper Products

66,359 (5.3%)

Metal: Sheets & Coils

62,898 (5.0%)

#	Cargo Type	Companies	% of Active
1	General Freight	663,856	53.2%
2	Construction	159,304	12.8%
3	Building Materials	146,853	11.8%
4	Motor Vehicles	116,587	9.3%
5	Machinery & Large Objects	104,230	8.4%
6	Grain/Feed/Hay	93,360	7.5%
7	Logs/Poles/Beams/Lumber	88,992	7.1%
8	Farm Supplies	66,935	5.4%
9	Paper Products	66,359	5.3%
10	Metal: Sheets & Coils	62,898	5.0%
11	Fresh Produce	61,567	4.9%
12	Driveaway/Towaway	58,081	4.7%
13	Dry Bulk Commodities	56,085	4.5%
14	Refrigerated Food	54,578	4.4%
15	Beverages	52,053	4.2%
16	Household Goods	49,992	4.0%
17	Garbage/Refuse/Trash	40,357	3.2%
18	Intermodal Containers	34,439	2.8%
19	Livestock	31,326	2.5%
20	Passengers	30,276	2.4%
21	Utility	26,283	2.1%
22	Meat	24,389	2.0%
23	Oilfield Equipment	24,230	1.9%
24	Liquids & Gases	19,099	1.5%
25	U.S. Mail	16,082	1.3%
26	Mobile Homes	9,285	0.7%
27	Chemicals	9,029	0.7%
28	Coal/Coke	8,461	0.7%
29	Water Well	6,035	0.5%

Companies may select multiple cargo types, so percentages sum to more than 100%.

Cargo Specialization

1,095,861

with any
cargo type

1 Cargo Type

606,260(55.3%)

2–3 Types

327,665(29.9%)

4–6 Types

108,997(9.9%)

7+ Types

52,939(4.8%)

151,915 companies (12.2% of all active) report no cargo types and are excluded from this chart.

Avg Fleet Size by Cargo Type

Top 10 by company count

#	Cargo Type	Companies	Avg Fleet Size
1	General Freight	663,856	16.16
2	Construction	159,304	16.34
3	Building Materials	146,853	19.85
4	Motor Vehicles	116,587	16.02
5	Machinery & Large Objects	104,230	12.65
6	Grain/Feed/Hay	93,360	8.01
7	Logs/Poles/Beams/Lumber	88,992	18.75
8	Farm Supplies	66,935	13.73
9	Paper Products	66,359	18.81
10	Metal: Sheets & Coils	62,898	16.75

Average power units per company within each cargo group reporting fleet size (1–50,000 units). Outliers above 50,000 excluded.

Data Source: FMCSA SAFER System All data is based on active FMCSA (USDOT) records as of July 10, 2026 and is updated weekly. Active U.S. motor carriers (Status='A', U.S. state codes).