We’ve got ourselves a convoy … of 3.5 million truckers

There were more than 8.9 million people employed in the trucking industry in 2007, with 3.5 million of those being truck drivers, according to a new report from the American Trucking Associations.

Several thousand of those employees are employed by Fort Smith-based ABF Freight System, Van Buren-based USA Truck and many smaller area trucking companies like Fort Smith-based Carman Inc.

Statistics in the ATA American Trucking Trends 2008-2009 report include:

In 2007, trucks transported 57.8 percent of the value of trade between the United States and Canada, up 3.4 percent from the previous year, and transported 66.2 percent of the value of trade between the United States and Mexico, up 4.8 percent.

All trucks used for business purposes in 2006 logged 432.9 billion miles.

Trucks consumed 53.9 billion gallons of fuel for business purposes and paid $37.4 billion in federal and state highway-user taxes. Commercial trucks make up 12.5 percent of all registered vehicles, but paid 36.5 percent of total highway-user taxes in 2006.
 
“Nearly every good consumed in the United States is put on a truck at some point. Americans need to keep in mind that the national economy is directly linked to an effective transportation industry,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves, in a statement.   
 
The ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.