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Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking in the US Industry Data and Analysis
Long-distance specialized freight trucking delivered a resilient five-year run despite a freight cycle that collapsed almost as fast as it surged. Revenue spiked in 2021 and 2022 as pandemic-era supply chain disruptions and surging consumer demand increased the number of specialized carriers. High freight demand lifted profit to 17.7% of revenue in 2021. Elevated fuel surcharges and outsized demand for chemicals, energy and temperature-controlled goods also raised profit. The correction that followed, however, was steep. Spot rates dropped from late 2022 through 2024 because of overcapacity, weakening construction activity and softening consumer demand. This contributed to the drop in profit to 14.8% of revenue in 2026. The Trump administration's 25.0% duty on imported medium- and heavy-duty trucks and 50.0% steel and aluminum tariffs raised fleet acquisition and maintenance costs. Revenue climbed at a 1.2% CAGR over the last five years through 2026. It reached $61.4 billion in 2026. Revenue dropped 0.1% in 2026 year-over-year because of trade disruptions and diesel price spikes.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released March 2026.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 48423. This industry includes companies that provide long-distance specialized transportation of cargo using trucks and trailers. The industry moves cargo that requires specialized equipment for transportation because of its size, weight, shape or other characteristics. Companies within this industry transport items such as automobiles, gravel, sand, dirt, chemicals, frozen goods, livestock, milk and petroleum. Related terms covered in the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States include just-in-time, north american free trade agreement (nafta), truckload and reefer.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States include Bulk liquids and gases, Climate-controlled packed goods and Automobiles.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States include Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc., Hunt J B Transport Services Inc. and Jack Cooper Holdings Corp.
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 Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States.
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 Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States.
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 Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States.
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 Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States. 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 Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States. 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 Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States. 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 Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States. 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 Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States is $61.4bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States in 2026?
There are 26,199 businesses in the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.1 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States?
The Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States 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 Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States?
The Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States are Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc., Hunt J B Transport Services Inc. and Jack Cooper Holdings Corp.
What does the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States include?
Climate-controlled packed goods movement and Bulk liquids and gases movement are part of the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States?
The company holding the most market share in the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States is Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc..
How competitive is the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in the United States.
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