Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Local Revenue Benchmarks
The average specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local business in the United States generates $1.2M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 30,936 specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local businesses in the U.S., employing 225,094 workers with an average profit margin of 5.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $67K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Specialized Freight Business Actually Do?
Local trucking for specialty freight — heavy haul, hazmat, auto transport, refrigerated local delivery.
Who buys: Contractors, industrial companies, auto dealers, food distributors.
Average Revenue
$1.2M
per year
Profit Margin
5.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$166K
per year
Total Businesses
30,936
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$60K
small business avg
Labor Cost
35.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$67K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
9.3
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Local Charge?
Local specialty freight — heavy haul, hazmat, refrigerated local, auto transport.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Heavy haul hourly rate | $150–300/hour |
Local auto transport (per car) | $150–500 |
Refrigerated local delivery | $95–200/hour |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete specialized freight business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a specialized freight (except used goods) 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 specialized freight (except used goods) 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 | $362K | Fuel is often the single biggest line — plus tires, maintenance, tolls. |
Wages & benefits | $35 | $423K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $72K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $36K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $21 | $254K | Insurance (very high), truck payments, dispatching software, driver benefits. |
Net profit | $5 | $60K | 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
13.05%
openings/year
Closure Rate
14.23%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-0.69%
annual
Businesses Closed
5,742
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Specialized Freight Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
30 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local business do?
- Local trucking for specialty freight — heavy haul, hazmat, auto transport, refrigerated local delivery. Contractors, industrial companies, auto dealers, food distributors.
- How much do specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local charge?
- Local specialty freight — heavy haul, hazmat, refrigerated local, auto transport. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local make per year?
- The average specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local business generates $1.2M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $60K per year at a 5.0% profit margin.
- How many specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local businesses are there in the US?
- There are 30,936 specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 225,094 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local business?
- Startup costs for a specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local industry?
- The average employee in the specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local industry earns $67K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of -0.7%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 13.1% and 14.2% respectively.
Approximately 46% of specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 5,742 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local industry earns $66,653/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 31,351 establishments employing 224,934 people, the typical business has about 7 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local industry has declined 8% since 2000 (from 45,868 to 42,221 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Local revenue with other industries: