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FMCSA DOT CENSUS DATA · 2026

U.S. Trucking Industry —
2026 Statistics & Carrier Counts

How many trucking companies operate in America? Here are the real numbers, straight from the federal carrier census — broken down by cargo segment.

1.6M+
Active Carriers
27
Specialty Segments
50
States Covered
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Key Trucking Industry Numbers

1.6M+ Active Carriers

The FMCSA DOT Census lists over 1.6 million active motor carriers operating across the United States in 2026.

All 50 States

Every state has an active carrier base — from roughly 18,000 in Alabama to well over 100,000 in Texas and California.

Small Fleets Dominate

The overwhelming majority of U.S. carriers are small operations, which is why direct outreach by email and phone works in this industry.

27 Specialty Segments

From auto haulers to livestock to oilfield, cargo authority classifications let you target exactly the fleet type you sell to.

Active U.S. Motor Carriers by Segment (2026)

Segment counts below reflect active carrier records in the FMCSA DOT Census as compiled in the Barrgo Trucking Lists database, August 2026. Segments overlap — a carrier can hold multiple cargo authorities.

Carrier SegmentActive Carriers
General Freight1.9M records (incl. multi-authority)
Construction280,000+
Building Materials275,000+
Heavy Machinery202,000+
Log & Timber137,000+
Grain & Feed135,000+
Auto Haulers127,000+
Produce Carriers82,000+
Refrigerated Food68,000+
Waste & Recycling68,000+
Dry Bulk65,000+
Moving Companies62,000+
Paper Products60,000+
Driveaway60,000+
Utility Carriers56,000+
Beverage Carriers49,000+
Passenger Carriers49,000+
Livestock Carriers41,000+
Intermodal38,000+
Tanker (Liquid/Gas)37,000+
Meat Carriers36,000+
Oilfield Carriers24,000+
Chemical Carriers17,000+
US Mail Carriers17,000+
Water Well10,000+
Mobile Home Transport10,000+
Coal Carriers8,000+

Cite freely with a link to this page. Data: FMCSA DOT Census via Barrgo Trucking Lists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does this data come from?
All figures are derived from the FMCSA DOT Census — the U.S. government's official motor carrier registry — as compiled in the Barrgo Trucking Lists database, updated August 2026.
Can I cite these statistics?
Yes. You're welcome to reference these figures in articles, presentations, and reports with a link back to this page as the source.
Do segments add up to the total?
No — segments overlap because carriers often hold multiple cargo authorities. The unique active carrier total is 1.6M+.
Can I download the underlying data?
Yes. The full national database — every active carrier with emails, phones, and DOT/MC numbers — is available as an instant CSV download for a one-time $99.

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