Truckers and the transport industry: the backbone of America

Trucking is the most common method of transport in America and is responsible for moving 70 percent of all freight within the country. There are currently just under four million long-haul truckers employed in the United States.

Truck drivers have a rigorous schedule and spend up to 300 days per year on the road. Many work up to 70 hours a week, although they’re only allowed to drive for 11 hours a day.

Some truckers are paid hourly, but most are paid by the number of miles driven. This means that traffic, adverse weather conditions and mechanical breakdowns all have a financial cost for truck drivers.

Drivers travel roughly 125,000 miles per year, which amounts to almost 350 miles per day. When it comes to schedules and seeing their families, drivers with seniority may have a regional route that allows them to return home weekly. Newer drivers, however, may be away from home for up to three weeks.

Truck drivers and other transport workers do important work that keeps our communities running. About 75 percent of American communities are entirely reliant on trucks for transporting food, clothes and supplies. So, the next time you see a trucker, thank them for the important role they play in keeping our country running smoothly.