Total Truck Volumes Will Grow, Even as Pipelines Gain Market Share

Growth in both overall freight volumes and in the amount of goods moved by truck is expected to continue far into the future, according to the American Trucking Associations.

“As we continue to see growth in the overall economy, particularly due to manufacturing, consumer spending and international trade, we will also see increases in the amount of freight moved in America’s trucks,” said ATA chief economist Bob Costello.

According to the group, between 2016 and 2027, overall freight tonnage will grow a total of 35%. Over that same timeframe, the amount of freight moved by trucks will grow slightly less at 27%.

Overall, other modes of transportation – truck, rail and water – will lose market share to pipeline, which will grow from 10.5% to 17.4% between 2016 and 2027 primarily as a result of growth in the U.S. energy sector.

Specific to trucking, truckload volumes will grow 2% annually between 2016 and 2022 and 1.6% per year after that until 2027.

Less-than-truckload volume will grow year after year 3% through 2022 and 2.8% from 2023 to 2027.

Private carrier volumes will grow 2.3% annually until 2022 and 2.1% each year over the next five years.

“No one can know exactly what the future holds for our economy and industry, but w do know as long as our economy continues to grow, trucks will continue to move the vast majority of America’s goods, underscoring our industry’s critical role in our country’s future,” said Chris Spear, CEO of ATA.