12/21/2006 Trucking By The Numbers

 

Trucking, like baseball, lends itself to statistics. These statistics can be used for in-depth analysis by industry and government officials, or as answers to trivia questions over dinner at a truckstop. They can also provide an interesting snapshot of an industry that is in a constant state of change.

 

Researching trucking statistics can be as exciting as watching paint dry. However over the course of months or years of doing such research an interesting assortment of trucking trivia can be accumulated. Here, in no particular order, are some interesting, offbeat, and lesser-known, statistics and facts about truckers and the trucking industry.

 

What is the average age of U.S. truck drivers?

The average age of a truck driver in the U.S. is 43.6. (43% of drivers are 45 or older, 13.9% are 55-64, and 2.8% are 65 or older)

 

What percentage of truck drivers in the U.S. are female?

Women comprise 4.6% of the truck drivers in the U.S.

 

How many female drivers were involved in fatal accidents?

Only about 2% of drivers involved in fatal accidents were female.

 

How many tractor-trailer drivers are there in the U.S.?

1.4 million, according to the U.S. Labor Dept.

 

How many Interstate Motor Carriers (Truck and Bus) are there in the U.S?

In 2004 there were 677,249 active motor carriers in the U.S.

 

6.3% of U.S truck drivers are injured each year.

 

How many Compliance Reviews (Safety Audits) are done per year?

In FY 2006 there were 15,166 Safety Audits performed.

 

How many roadside inspections for trucks are done per year?

In FY 2006 there were 3,133,102 truck roadside inspections done.

 

How many truck drivers use seat and shoulder belts?

59% of truckers buckled up regularly, compared to 83% of auto drivers.

 

Among truckers who has the highest rate of safety belt usage?

83 % of drivers of single tankers and hazmat tractor-trailer combinations routinely use safety belts.

 

What percentage of U.S. freight do trucks carry?

Trucks carry 70% (by value) of all U.S. freight and 60% by weight.

 

How many CDL drivers are tested for drugs and alcohol each year?

The FMCSA testing rate is currently at 50% of drivers each year for drugs and 10% of drivers each year for alcohol.

 

How many drivers test positive each year for either drugs or alcohol?

The FMCSA 2003 Survey shows 2% of drivers testing positive for drugs And 0.2% testing positive for alcohol.

 

What is the average cost of a truck accident?

In 2003 adjusted dollars the average crash costs $62,613

 

How many miles per year does the average driver drive?

The average over the road driver drives 121,380 miles per year

 

How many hours per week does the average driver work?

The average driver works 62.1 hours a week

 

When is a driver most likely to have an accident?

During the 11th hour of driving, drivers were nearly 3.5 times as likely to have an accident as they were in their first hour of driving.

 

How many trucks do interstate carriers operate?

81% of FMCSA regulated motor carriers have 6 or fewer trucks, 12% have 7 to 20 trucks, and 7% have more than 20 trucks.

 

Trucks – general snapshots

3% of registered vehicles in the U.S. are large trucks. Large trucks account for 7% of total vehicle miles traveled, 9% of vehicles in fatal crashes, and 4% of vehicles involved in injury and property damage only accidents.)

 

How many Hazardous Materials shipments are there in the U.S.?

There are some 800,000 daily shipments of hazardous materials in the U.S.

 

How many Hazardous Materials incidents occur on highways each year?

In 2005 there were 12,365 hazmat incidents on U.S. highways, 461 of which were classified as “serious.” These incidents resulted in 20 deaths, 146 injuries, and almost $32 million in damages.

 

How prevalent are team drivers in the trucking industry?

Team drivers make up less than 2% of the overall driver population.