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: October 14, 2026 Updated weekly

788,139

General Freight Carriers

61.8% of all active companies

Construction

Top Specialized Cargo

322,229 companies (25.3% of all active)

3.2

Avg Cargo Types

Among companies reporting cargo types

Oct 14, 2026

Data As Of

Updated weekly from FMCSA SAFER

Cargo Types by Company Count

% = of all active companies

General Freight

788,139 (61.8%)

Construction

322,229 (25.3%)

Building Materials

322,089 (25.3%)

Machinery & Large Objects

159,754 (12.5%)

Motor Vehicles

158,721 (12.5%)

Logs/Poles/Beams/Lumber

150,305 (11.8%)

Grain/Feed/Hay

136,861 (10.7%)

Metal: Sheets & Coils

119,728 (9.4%)

Dry Bulk Commodities

112,731 (8.8%)

Farm Supplies

112,381 (8.8%)

#	Cargo Type	Companies	% of Active
1	General Freight	788,139	61.8%
2	Construction	322,229	25.3%
3	Building Materials	322,089	25.3%
4	Machinery & Large Objects	159,754	12.5%
5	Motor Vehicles	158,721	12.5%
6	Logs/Poles/Beams/Lumber	150,305	11.8%
7	Grain/Feed/Hay	136,861	10.7%
8	Metal: Sheets & Coils	119,728	9.4%
9	Dry Bulk Commodities	112,731	8.8%
10	Farm Supplies	112,381	8.8%
11	Fresh Produce	112,055	8.8%
12	Paper Products	106,756	8.4%
13	Refrigerated Food	105,479	8.3%
14	Meat	105,445	8.3%
15	Household Goods	96,447	7.6%
16	Driveaway/Towaway	85,036	6.7%
17	Beverages	83,410	6.5%
18	Intermodal Containers	67,800	5.3%
19	Garbage/Refuse/Trash	66,946	5.3%
20	Utility	59,868	4.7%
21	Livestock	42,491	3.3%
22	U.S. Mail	42,073	3.3%
23	Oilfield Equipment	38,365	3.0%
24	Liquids & Gases	36,991	2.9%
25	Passengers	34,478	2.7%
26	Coal/Coke	22,491	1.8%
27	Chemicals	21,433	1.7%
28	Mobile Homes	19,034	1.5%
29	Water Well	15,192	1.2%

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

Cargo Specialization

1,266,568

with any
cargo type

1 Cargo Type

550,985 (43.5%)

2–3 Types

368,276 (29.1%)

4–6 Types

195,333 (15.4%)

7+ Types

151,974 (12.0%)

7,793 companies (0.6% 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	788,139	14.68
2	Construction	322,229	13.66
3	Building Materials	322,089	13.66
4	Machinery & Large Objects	159,754	10.59
5	Motor Vehicles	158,721	13.89
6	Logs/Poles/Beams/Lumber	150,305	14.44
7	Grain/Feed/Hay	136,861	7.46
8	Metal: Sheets & Coils	119,728	12.00
9	Dry Bulk Commodities	112,731	12.23
10	Farm Supplies	112,381	10.63

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 October 14, 2026 and is updated weekly. Active U.S. motor carriers (Status='A', U.S. state codes).