General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload Revenue Benchmarks
The average general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload business in the United States generates $1.8M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 50,230 general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload businesses in the U.S., employing 573,674 workers with an average profit margin of 5.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $65K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload Business Actually Do?
Trucking companies moving freight over long distances (>150 miles), typically interstate. Includes owner-operators and larger carriers.
Who buys: Shippers moving goods between distribution centers, manufacturers to wholesalers/retailers.
Average Revenue
$1.8M
per year
Profit Margin
5.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$158K
per year
Total Businesses
50,230
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$90K
small business avg
Labor Cost
35.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$65K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
15.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload Charge?
Long-haul trucking is priced per mile with equipment type and lane density as drivers.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Dry van (per mile) | $2.00–3.00/mile |
Reefer (temp-controlled) | $2.50–3.75/mile |
Flatbed | $2.75–4.00/mile |
Detention / demurrage | $50–100/hour after first 2 free hours |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload 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, long-distance, truckload 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 | $540K | Fuel is often the single biggest line — plus tires, maintenance, tolls. |
Wages & benefits | $35 | $631K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $108K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $54K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $21 | $378K | Insurance (very high), truck payments, dispatching software, driver benefits. |
Net profit | $5 | $90K | 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, Long-Distance, Truckload Business?
Startup Cost
$30K – $200K
Break-Even
15 months
5-Year Survival Rate
45.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload business do?
- Trucking companies moving freight over long distances (>150 miles), typically interstate. Includes owner-operators and larger carriers. Shippers moving goods between distribution centers, manufacturers to wholesalers/retailers.
- How much do general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload charge?
- Long-haul trucking is priced per mile with equipment type and lane density as drivers. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload make per year?
- The average general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload business generates $1.8M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $90K per year at a 5.0% profit margin.
- How many general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload businesses are there in the US?
- There are 50,230 general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 573,674 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload business?
- Startup costs for a general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload 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, long-distance, truckload industry?
- The average employee in the general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload industry earns $65K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload 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, long-distance, truckload 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, long-distance, truckload industry earns $64,727/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 64,691 establishments employing 538,997 people, the typical business has about 8 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload industry has grown 120% since 2000 (from 38,743 to 85,244 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload revenue with other industries: