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: August 26, 2026 Updated weekly

689,796

General Freight Carriers

54.4% of all active companies

Construction

Top Specialized Cargo

235,383 companies (18.6% of all active)

2.0

Avg Cargo Types

Among companies reporting cargo types

Aug 26, 2026

Data As Of

Updated weekly from FMCSA SAFER

Cargo Types by Company Count

% = of all active companies

General Freight

689,796 (54.4%)

Construction

235,383 (18.6%)

Motor Vehicles

117,882 (9.3%)

Machinery & Large Objects

107,868 (8.5%)

Grain/Feed/Hay

95,618 (7.5%)

Logs/Poles/Beams/Lumber

92,531 (7.3%)

Household Goods

74,772 (5.9%)

Farm Supplies

68,937 (5.4%)

Metal: Sheets & Coils

66,136 (5.2%)

Fresh Produce

63,762 (5.0%)

#	Cargo Type	Companies	% of Active
1	General Freight	689,796	54.4%
2	Construction	235,383	18.6%
3	Motor Vehicles	117,882	9.3%
4	Machinery & Large Objects	107,868	8.5%
5	Grain/Feed/Hay	95,618	7.5%
6	Logs/Poles/Beams/Lumber	92,531	7.3%
7	Household Goods	74,772	5.9%
8	Farm Supplies	68,937	5.4%
9	Metal: Sheets & Coils	66,136	5.2%
10	Fresh Produce	63,762	5.0%
11	Dry Bulk Commodities	60,381	4.8%
12	Driveaway/Towaway	59,771	4.7%
13	Refrigerated Food	59,686	4.7%
14	Paper Products	54,913	4.3%
15	Beverages	44,632	3.5%
16	Garbage/Refuse/Trash	42,409	3.3%
17	Intermodal Containers	36,391	2.9%
18	Passengers	30,303	2.4%
19	Livestock	28,222	2.2%
20	Utility	27,882	2.2%
21	Oilfield Equipment	20,043	1.6%
22	Liquids & Gases	19,868	1.6%
23	U.S. Mail	17,541	1.4%
24	Chemicals	9,765	0.8%
25	Mobile Homes	9,757	0.8%
26	Coal/Coke	9,041	0.7%
27	Building Materials	7,291	0.6%
28	Water Well	6,763	0.5%
29	Meat	659	0.1%

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

Cargo Specialization

1,258,046

with any
cargo type

1 Cargo Type

736,930(58.6%)

2–3 Types

366,137(29.1%)

4–6 Types

107,292(8.5%)

7+ Types

47,687(3.8%)

9,772 companies (0.8% 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	689,796	15.93
2	Construction	235,383	16.83
3	Motor Vehicles	117,882	16.16
4	Machinery & Large Objects	107,868	12.66
5	Grain/Feed/Hay	95,618	8.10
6	Logs/Poles/Beams/Lumber	92,531	18.75
7	Household Goods	74,772	35.51
8	Farm Supplies	68,937	13.82
9	Metal: Sheets & Coils	66,136	16.61
10	Fresh Produce	63,762	16.18

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 August 26, 2026 and is updated weekly. Active U.S. motor carriers (Status='A', U.S. state codes).