Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Report: Trucks Dominate Freight Moves Between 2012-17

Trucks remain the most commonly used mode to move freight, transporting 64% of the weight and 72% of the value in 2017.

March 2, 2021
Report: Trucks Dominate Freight Moves Between 2012-17

 

Photo: Evan Lockridge

2 min to read


Trucks remain the most commonly used mode to move freight, transporting 64% of the weight (12.7 billion tons) and 72% of the value ($13.7 trillion) in 2017.

Graph: USDOT

Goods moved on America’s transportation network rose in value and tonnage from 2012 to 2017, and trucks remain the most commonly used mode to move freight, according to the latest version of the Freight Analysis Framework from the Federal Highway Administration and Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Ad Loading...

The newly updated estimates show that nearly 20 billion tons of goods worth almost $19 trillion were moved on the U.S. transportation network in 2017. The annual numbers mean that on average, 54 million tons of goods valued at $52 billion a day moved throughout the country on all transportation modes.

Ad Loading...

In comparison, five years earlier in 2012, nearly 17 billion tons of goods worth about $18 trillion were moved, which equates to 46 million tons of goods valued at more than $48 billion per day.

Trucks remain the most commonly used mode to move freight, transporting 64% of the weight (12.7 billion tons) and 72% of the value ($13.7 trillion) in 2017.

The busiest freight corridors are located between major cities. For example, the total value of bi-directional freight flows transported between the Los Angeles and San Francisco metropolitan areas, the busiest corridor, reached $200 billion in 2017 or 1.1% of the national total.

FAF benchmarks are released at five-year intervals. Starting with data from BTS’ Commodity Flow Survey and international trade data from the Census Bureau, it incorporates data from agriculture, extraction, utility, construction, service and other sectors. FAF numbers represent total freight flows within the U.S., including domestic movement of imports and exports.

The 2017 data will be used as a benchmark for the development of additional data releases, including: annual freight flows estimates for 2018, 2019 and 2020; long-range forecasts through 2050; projections of truck flows on the highway network for 2017 and 2050; and a historical time series.

More Fleet Management

Illustration showing generic graphs and stylized trucking fleet
Fleet Managementby StaffMarch 24, 2026

ACT: Trucking Volumes Rise, Capacity Tightens as Fuel Prices Cloud Outlook

ACT Research data shows volumes hitting a four-year high and supply-demand balance strengthening, but higher oil prices are undercutting tariff relief and tempering optimism.

Read More →
People looking at Wabash display at TMC
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseMarch 23, 2026

Wabash Teams Physical Security With Digital Tech For Better Cargo Visibility

The patent-pending cargo solution integrates a digitally connected cargo door and an intelligent locking system with the TrailerHawk.AI technology platform.

Read More →
Cyberstop column header depicting images related to cybersecurity and rising oil prices
Fleet Managementby Ben WilkensMarch 20, 2026

From Diesel Prices to Cyberattacks: How the Iran War Is Affecting Trucking

The impact of the Iran conflict extends beyond fuel costs, bringing more fraud and cybersecurity risks to the trucking industry.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
ATA President Chris Spear.
Fleet Managementby Jack RobertsMarch 17, 2026

ATA’s Spear Warns Fuel Prices, Trade Policy, and Global Conflict Could Stall Trucking Recovery

Speaking at the TMC Annual Meeting in Nashville, ATA President Chris Spear said trucking faces mounting pressure from rising fuel prices, geopolitical instability, and uncertainty around trade policy.

Read More →
Illustration of author headshot with black-and-white old-fashioned rig in the background

New Entrants, Chameleon Carriers, and Safety: Is It Too Easy to Start a Trucking Company?

More than 100,000 new trucking companies enter the industry each year, but regulators manage to audit only a fraction of them. That churn creates opportunities for inexperienced startups — and for “chameleon carriers” that shut down after safety violations and reappear under new identities. Read more from Deborah Lockridge in this commentary.

Read More →
Panel discussion
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeMarch 12, 2026

Fleet Managers Invited to Apply for Exclusive HDT Exchange Event

HDTX is an intimate event that connects heavy-duty trucking fleet managers with industry suppliers through small-group discussions, educational sessions, and structured one-on-one meetings.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
DAT iPhone Widget.
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseMarch 12, 2026

DAT Launches iPhone Widget to Help Owner-Operators Find Loads Faster

New DAT One feature shows top-paying loads directly on an iPhone’s home screen, helping carriers react faster to spot-market opportunities.

Read More →
Optimal Dynamics Scale screen shot
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseMarch 12, 2026

Optimal Dynamics Launches AI System to Help Carriers Choose Better Freight

Optimal Dynamics says its new Scale platform uses AI agents and optimization to help carriers find and secure freight that improves network balance and profitability.

Read More →
DAT March 2026 trucking conditions.
Fleet Managementby Jack RobertsMarch 12, 2026

DAT: Flatbed Demand Climbs as Van and Reefer Rates Soften

DAT Freight & Analytics data shows tightening flatbed capacity, easing produce markets, and softening van and reefer rates.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
YouTube thumbnail with Mike Roeth of NACFE saying "NACFE's Messy Middle: Which Fuel Wins?"
Fuel Smartsby Deborah LockridgeMarch 11, 2026

Run on Less “Messy Middle” Data Shows Multiple Paths Forward for Truck Powertrains [Watch]

NACFE's Run on Less - Messy Middle project demonstrates the power of data in helping to guide the future of alternative fuels and powertrains for heavy-duty trucks.

Read More →