Industry Facts/ Owner Operators

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

• In 2007 the trucking industry was a $645+billion industry
• Truck classifications are usually: (29 million all classes)
• Less than 6,001 lbs- Light Trucks
•  6,001- 19,500 lbs- Medium Trucks
• 19,500-26,000 lbs- Light-heavy Trucks
• 26,001-130,000 or more lbs- Heavy Trucks
• Heavy Trucks are the most common operated by Owner-Operators and are known as Class 8 trucks, there are approximately 3 million registered Heavy Trucks.
• There were 8.9 million people employed in trucking-related jobs in 2007.
• 96% of all fleets are 20 trucks or less
• 86% of all fleets are 6 trucks or less
• 50+% of all fleets are thought to be one truck operations
• There are approximately 3.5 million truck drivers
• The number of fleets varies by different reporting groups but FMCSA has over 575,000 registered for-hire carriers
• Owner-Operators logged 107,526 miles in 2008
• Owner-Operators averaged $40,894 in net income for 2008
• The number of minority drivers increased to over 32% of the driving population
• Minority owner-operators are around 7%
• Most owner-operators became owner-operators at 35 years old
• 60% of owner-operators are away from home 151-300+ nights a year
• 85% of owner-operators have trucks older than 2007
• For most carriers Freightliner is the most common truck owned
• For owner-operators Freightliner is the most common but followed very closely by Peterbilt
• The fatal crash rate or large trucks per million Vehicle Miles Traveled was 1.94, the lowest since records were kept in 1997
• Approximately 54 billion gallons of fuel is consumed by trucks annually
• Almost 40% of all owner-operators served in the military
• Van trailers are the most common trailer pulled but for owner-operators the flatbed or reefer is the most common
• There are approximately 350,000 to 400,000 owner-operators
• On average, the owner-operator has been driving for over 20 years