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Local Freight Trucking in Canada Industry Data and Analysis
Canadian local freight truckers navigated persistent labor constraints and tariff-driven cost pressures throughout the current period. Still, they maintained steady revenue growth by adapting operations to support expanding e-commerce fulfillment and just-in-time logistics networks. Local freight truckers faced a structural driver shortage since experienced drivers retired while younger workers hesitated to join. Wage concerns and demanding schedules persist. This forces carriers to raise compensation packages to attract talent. Tariffs imposed on steel, aluminum and medium- to heavy-duty trucks, beginning in 2025, elevated fleet acquisition costs and compressed profit. The fragmented market structure also prevented carriers from fully passing expenses downstream to price-sensitive customers. Despite these headwinds, demand for less-than-truckload (LTL) services surged as retailers and manufacturers reduced inventory holdings. Flexible, frequent deliveries also supported LTL since rail could not efficiently provide for short-haul urban distribution. Local freight trucking revenue expanded at a CAGR of 1.7% over the last five years, including growth of 1.3% in 2025 to reach $16.1 billion.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released January 2026.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada operates under the NAICS industry code 48411CA. Operators in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada provide general freight trucking services over short distances. General freight companies handle a variety of commodities, which are usually palletized and transported in a container or van trailer. Local general freight trucking companies commonly provide trucking within a metropolitan area that may cross provincial borders and these trips are typically same-day return. Related terms covered in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada include truckload, less-than-truckload (ltl) and fuel surcharge.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada include Truckload services, Less-than-truckload services and Intermodal services.
What companies are included in this industry?
The Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada is highly fragmented with no companies holding a market share greater than 5%.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada in 2026?
The market size of the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada is $16.1bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada in 2026?
There are 41,545 businesses in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.8 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada?
The Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada?
The Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada is expected to grow.
What does the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada include?
Truckload services and Less-than-truckload services are part of the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada.
How competitive is the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada.
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