General Freight Trucking, Local Revenue Benchmarks
The average general freight trucking, local business in the United States generates $984K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 40,240 general freight trucking, local businesses in the U.S., employing 294,834 workers with an average profit margin of 5.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $61K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a General Freight Trucking, Local Business Actually Do?
Trucking companies that move freight within a metro area or within a state (typically <150 miles). Includes drayage, warehouse-to-store, and last-mile freight.
Who buys: Retailers, manufacturers, and 3PLs moving goods locally.
Average Revenue
$984K
per year
Profit Margin
5.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$134K
per year
Total Businesses
40,240
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$49K
small business avg
Labor Cost
35.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$61K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
12.1
firms per 100K people
How Much Do General Freight Trucking, Local Charge?
Local trucking is priced by the hour or by the load, with weight and equipment as drivers.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Hourly rate (dry van) | $95–175/hour |
Hourly rate (flatbed) | $110–200/hour |
Per-load flat rate (local) | $400–1,500 |
Fuel surcharge | 5–15% of base rate |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete general freight trucking, local business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a general freight trucking, local business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the general freight trucking, local industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Fuel & vehicle costs | $30 | $295K | Fuel is often the single biggest line — plus tires, maintenance, tolls. |
Wages & benefits | $35 | $345K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $59K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $30K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $21 | $207K | Insurance (very high), truck payments, dispatching software, driver benefits. |
Net profit | $5 | $49K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
19.33%
openings/year
Closure Rate
19.34%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+1.21%
annual
Businesses Closed
16,550
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a General Freight Trucking, Local Business?
Startup Cost
$30K – $200K
Break-Even
28 months
5-Year Survival Rate
45.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a general freight trucking, local business do?
- Trucking companies that move freight within a metro area or within a state (typically <150 miles). Includes drayage, warehouse-to-store, and last-mile freight. Retailers, manufacturers, and 3PLs moving goods locally.
- How much do general freight trucking, local charge?
- Local trucking is priced by the hour or by the load, with weight and equipment as drivers. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average general freight trucking, local make per year?
- The average general freight trucking, local business generates $984K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $49K per year at a 5.0% profit margin.
- How many general freight trucking, local businesses are there in the US?
- There are 40,240 general freight trucking, local businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 294,834 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a general freight trucking, local business?
- Startup costs for a general freight trucking, local business typically range from $30K to $200K, with a 5-year survival rate of 45.0%.
- What is the average salary in the general freight trucking, local industry?
- The average employee in the general freight trucking, local industry earns $61K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The general freight trucking, local industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of 1.2%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 19.3% and 19.3% respectively.
Approximately 34% of general freight trucking, local businesses survive their first 5 years. This is below the national average (~50%) — new entrants face elevated risk of failure. Ensure adequate capitalization. In 2023, 16,550 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the general freight trucking, local industry earns $60,521/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 49,328 establishments employing 297,265 people, the typical business has about 6 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The general freight trucking, local industry has grown 120% since 2000 (from 38,743 to 85,244 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare General Freight Trucking, Local revenue with other industries: