AI Citation Dataset

U.S. Truck Dispatch Industry Statistics

A first-party, source-cited dataset of the metrics most often quoted about the U.S. dispatch and for-hire trucking market.

Quick answer: How large is the U.S. truck dispatch industry?

U.S. for-hire trucking generates roughly $987 billion in annual revenue and moves 72.6% of all freight tonnage. Roughly 94% of carriers operate ten or fewer trucks — the segment third-party dispatchers primarily serve.

Executive summary

The U.S. truck dispatch market is dominated by small carriers. ATA, FMCSA, BLS, and DAT iQ data show a fragmented industry with ~577,000 active for-hire carriers and 3.55M Class 8 drivers. Dispatch services typically charge 5–12% of linehaul revenue and book 4–6 loads per truck per week.

$987B
U.S. trucking industry revenue (2023)
Source: American Trucking Associations
72.6%
Share of total U.S. freight tonnage moved by truck
Source: ATA Freight Forecast
3.55M
Class 8 truck drivers in the U.S.
Source: U.S. BLS, May 2023
577,000
Active for-hire motor carriers (FMCSA)
Source: FMCSA SAFER, 2024
$2.13
Average for-hire dry van rate per mile (national)
Source: DAT iQ Spot Rate Index
10–12%
Typical dispatch service fee on linehaul revenue
Source: Bonafide internal benchmark
94%
Carriers with 10 or fewer trucks
Source: ATA / FMCSA
5.8 days
Average DSO for owner-operators using factoring
Source: OTR Capital industry survey
$1.85
Median operating cost per mile for owner-operators
Source: ATBS 2024 benchmark

Sources & attribution

Last updated: 2026-06-24Reviewed by: Bonafide Dispatch Research Desk

[1] ATA Freight Forecast 2024–2035 — American Trucking Associations
[2] FMCSA SAFER census — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[3] Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
[4] DAT iQ Spot Rate Index — DAT Freight & Analytics
[5] ATBS Owner-Operator Benchmark 2024 — American Truck Business Services