20+ Transportation Industry Statistics [2026]: The State of American Transportation

Research Summary: If you’ve ever ventured out of your home, you’ve likely observed the myriad of cars and trucks populating the U.S. roadways. Particularly outside of major cities, alternative modes of transportation remain scarce.

But what does the American transportation system truly encompass? We’ve thoroughly investigated the essential facts about American transportation, and our research reveals:

• The U.S. transportation industry is valued at approximately $1.36 trillion as of 2022.

• Transportation emissions constitute around 27% of the nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

• 10.68 million Americans are employed in the transportation and warehousing sector as of 2022.

• The trucking sector is responsible for carrying 72.5% of freight within the transportation industry.

• The global transportation industry is projected to expand at a CAGR of 38.5% through 2027.

General Transportation Industry Statistics

Transportation plays a vital role in the modern economy. To better understand the industry, here are some key insights from our research:

• There are over 4.27 million businesses in the transportation and warehousing industry in the U.S.

  This sector is not only one of the largest in the country but is also experiencing significant growth, with a 9.9% increase in the number of businesses in 2021.

  

• 60% of online travel searches are initiated on mobile devices.

  Mobile technology has transformed the transportation landscape. A decade ago, apps like Uber and DoorDash were not mainstream. Now, keywords related to immediate transportation have surged, increasing by 519% over the last five years.

• In 2021, U.S. trucks transported 10.93 billion tons of freight.

  Despite this impressive figure, it reflects a 7.68% decline compared to 2019, when 11.84 billion tons were moved.

• Commercial trucks account for 24.5% of fuel consumption in the U.S.

  This indicates the importance of commercial trucking within U.S. supply chains, consuming nearly half the fuel used by personal vehicles combined (54.2%).

  

• The U.S. public transportation system has a market size of $78.5 billion.

  Unfortunately, this sector saw a contraction of -5.7% in 2022, with forecasts indicating a mere CAGR of 0.9% through 2027.

• The U.S. trucking industry generated annual revenue of $875.5 billion in 2021.

  This figure represents 80.4% of the nation’s freight bill, underscoring the trucking sector’s significance in the U.S. economy.

Transportation Industry Statistics by Employment

With millions of Americans employed, the transportation industry is a cornerstone of the U.S. job market. According to our findings:

• As of May 2022, the unemployment rate in the U.S. transportation industry stood at 4.5%.

  This figure is 25% higher than the national average of 3.6%, indicating that unemployment is more prevalent within the transportation sector. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, transportation unemployment was slightly above 7%, compared to over 13% nationwide.

• Over 80% of transportation workers have access to healthcare, paid vacation, and paid sick leave.

  Specifically, 83% have healthcare access, 88% enjoy paid vacation, and 84% receive paid sick leave, while 79% have retirement plan benefits.

  Benefits	% of Workers with Access
  Paid Vacation	88%
  Paid Sick Leave	84%
  Healthcare	83%
  Retirement Plans	79%

• 23.9% of U.S. transportation workers are aged 55 or older.

  This is notable, as a significant portion of transit workers (43.3%) falls into this age bracket, indicating a potential future labor shortage.

• The average U.S. truck driver covers between 605-650 miles daily.

  This distance is akin to driving from New York City to Cincinnati, OH in a single day, achieved by maintaining speeds of 55 to 60 miles per hour over an 11-hour shift.

Transportation Industry Trends and Projections

While the transportation sector faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are signs of recovery. Our findings indicate that:

• The transportation sector experienced a 5.6% employment decline in 2020.

• From 2019 to 2020, the market size of the U.S. transportation industry shrank by 18.3% (falling from $1.42 trillion to $1.16 trillion).

  

• As of 2022, 10.68 million individuals are employed in the transportation and warehousing sector.

• Between 2011 and 2021, U.S. trucking industry revenue grew by 36.8% (from $519 million to $710 million).

  Year	Trucking Industry Revenue (in millions)
  2021	$710M
  2020	$551M
  2019	$523M
  2018	$534M
  2017	$447M
  2016	$429M
  2015	$508M
  2014	$602M
  2013	$555M
  2012	$512M
  2011	$519M

• The electric truck market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 30.15% through 2027.

• The Mobility as a Service (MaaS) market is expected to reach $40.1 billion by 2030.

Transportation Industry Statistics FAQ

1. What is the U.S. transportation sector?

   The U.S. transportation sector encompasses a variety of businesses that transport both people and goods across the country. This diversity contributes to the industry’s size, including major players like Uber and UPS.

   Trucking constitutes a significant portion, accounting for 24.5% of the nation’s fuel consumption.

2. How large is the transportation industry in the U.S.?

   The U.S. transportation industry is substantial, with a market size of $1.26 trillion. Additionally, the sector comprises over 3.65 million businesses employing more than 10 million Americans.

   However, the industry did face declines during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the trucking sector transporting 10.23 billion tons of freight in 2020, a 13.6% drop from 2019.

3. What is the largest transportation company?

   UPS is the largest transportation company globally, boasting revenue of $97.3 billion. The company employs around 335,520 individuals and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

   UPS Freight operates over 200 facilities across the U.S., with more than 22,000 trailers and 6,700 tractors.

Conclusion

The transportation sector is vital to the economy of the United States, representing a market worth around $1.26 trillion and employing approximately 10.68 million individuals.

People nationwide depend on the transportation industry not only to move goods but also to facilitate personal travel.

Moreover, with the rise of innovations like electric vehicles and advanced transportation applications, the sector is poised for continued growth, providing more job opportunities and solidifying its role as an essential aspect of American life.

References

1. Statista. “Size of the transportation and warehousing market in the U.S. between 2019 and 2022.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

2. EPA. “Carbon Pollution from Transportation.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

3. BLS. “Employment in Transportation: Employment in Transportation and Related Industries.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

4. ATA. “News & Insights.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

5. IBISWorld. “Transportation and Warehousing in the US – Number of Businesses.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

6. CCJ. “Trucks moved less tonnage in pandemic-hampered 2020, women trucker count hit all-time high.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

7. EIA. “Use of energy explained.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

8. IBISWorld. “Public Transportation in the US.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

9. ATA. “Economics and Industry Data.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

10. BLS. “U.S. Transportation Sector Unemployment Rate of 4.5% In May 2022 Is Below the May 2021 Level of 7.9% But Just Above the Pre-Pandemic May Level of 4.3% in 2019.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

11. BLS. “Transportation and Warehousing: NAICS 48-49.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

12. LV Road. “Find Out Here How Many Miles Can a Truck Driver Drive in a Day.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

13. Macrotrends. “USA Truck Revenue 2010-2022 | USAK.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

14. Yahoo. “Global Electric Truck Market (2022 to 2027) – Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecasts.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

15. Metro. “MaaS Market Projected to Reach $40.1 Billion by 2030.” Accessed on August 1st, 2022.

Author

Jack Flynn

Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.