Trucking
This industry moves freight over land using motor vehicles, serving as the flexible "last mile" link that connects ports and rail yards to warehouses and stores.
Why it exists
Trucking provides flexible, last-mile and regional freight transport across nearly all industries and geographies.
Why it’s necessary
Road freight is the backbone of domestic logistics, delivering goods from ports, warehouses, and distribution centers to businesses and consumers.
Key components
Fleet operations
Drivers & dispatch systems
Freight brokerage
Maintenance networks
How to evaluate businesses
Metrics include revenue per mile, load factor, driver availability, maintenance costs, and exposure to spot vs contract rates. Labor constraints and fuel costs heavily influence margins.
How the industry could be improved
Autonomous driving, platooning, electrification, dynamic route optimization, and predictive maintenance could dramatically increase capacity and reduce labor bottlenecks.