North America Road Freight Transport - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The north america road freight transport market size is expected to increase from USD 660.24 billion in 2025 to USD 686.58 billion in 2026 and reach USD 839.77 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.11% over 2026-2031. This report is Segmented by End-User (Agriculture, and More), by Destination (Domestic, International), by Truckload (FTL, LTL), by Containerization (Containerized, and More), by Distance (Long Haul, Short Haul), by Goods (Fluid, Solid Goods), by Temperature (Non-Temperature, Temperature), and by Country (United States, and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

North America Road Freight Transport Market Trends and Insights

CBP Digital Border-Clearance Systems

Customs and Border Protection’s ACE platform cuts average clearance times by nearly 40% by unifying 47 agency requirements within a single digital window. The gain in processing speed raises truck turns per week and lowers detention costs, particularly on the Laredo and Detroit corridors where cross-border demand is climbing fastest. ACE data analytics also sharpens enforcement focus on high-risk loads, allowing compliant carriers to traverse with minimal inspection, which increases shipper confidence in predictable transit

Blue-Hydrogen Corridor Logistics Demand

California and Texas hydrogen hubs have begun large-scale liquid hydrogen production that must move in cryogenic tanks maintained below -253 °C. Only a limited pool of carriers owns equipment meeting the United States Department of Transportation hazmat standards, creating a premium-rate niche. As long-term offtake agreements multiply, dedicated hydrogen lanes are emerging between Gulf-Coast producers and West-Coast refueling networks, supporting incremental demand for specialized drivers and pressure-vessel trailers.

Escalating Insurance “Nuclear Verdicts” Costs

Median jury awards in fatal trucking cases climbed to USD 27 million by 2025, a five-fold rise over the prior decade, forcing annual liability-premium hikes near 30% for many fleets. Owner-operators and small regional carriers are exiting the market or downsizing, which tightens market capacity but also drives consolidation toward capital-rich operators able to self-insure sizable deductibles.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• Outsourcing of Private Retail Truck Fleets
• Regulatory Approval of Truck-Platooning
• Heavy-Truck OEM Delivery Delays From Chip Shortages

For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.

Segment Analysis

Manufacturing held a 34.81% share of the North America road freight transport market size in 2025, while wholesale and retail trade is projected to grow at a 5.85% CAGR, reflecting resilient demand across key end-use sectors. Manufacturing activity sustains high volumes of raw material inflows, WIP transfers, and finished-goods distribution, supporting long-haul density across the Midwest-Southwest corridor. Meanwhile, omnichannel retail models are accelerating smaller, more frequent shipments into regional fulfillment networks.

Construction freight benefits from federal infrastructure investment, though oil and gas volumes remain exposed to energy price volatility. Seasonal surges in agriculture during autumn tighten capacity, while stricter EPA emissions standards are prompting shippers to prioritize carriers with modern, lower-emission fleets, strengthening the position of operators that invest in fleet upgrades.

Domestic hauls accounted for 62.37% of the North America road freight transport market size in 2025, while cross-border freight is projected to grow at a 5.03% CAGR, supported by streamlined trade under the USMCA framework. Simplified customs processes and improved border technology are reducing dwell times and increasing shipment visibility, making international lanes more attractive to electronics and automotive shippers seeking reliable transit.

As Mexican and Canadian suppliers further integrate with United States distribution networks, international road freight demand is set to accelerate. Carriers equipped with bilingual driver pools, bonded warehousing capabilities, and surety bond coverage are positioned to capture an outsized share of this cross-border growth.

Full-truck-load (FTL) operations represented 78% of the North America road freight transport market size in 2025, while less-than-truckload (LTL) services are projected to expand at a 6.18% CAGR, driven by inventory-light retail models requiring frequent, palletized replenishment. FTL continues to benefit from strong asset-turn efficiency, particularly for high-volume industrial movements.

At the same time, regional LTL network densification is shortening line-haul distances and supporting faster delivery commitments. Although LTL is scaling more rapidly, FTL’s share is expected to decline only gradually as shippers continue to rely on dedicated capacity for fragile, high-value, and hazardous freight.

Complete Report Scope:

• End User Industry
  • Agriculture, Fishing, and Forestry
  • Construction
  • Manufacturing
  • Oil and Gas, Mining and Quarrying
  • Wholesale and Retail Trade
  • Others
• Destination
  • Domestic
  • International
• Truckload Specification
  • Full-Truck-Load (FTL)
  • Less than-Truck-Load (LTL)
• Containerization
  • Containerized
  • Non-Containerized
• Distance
  • Long Haul
  • Short Haul
• Goods Configuration
  • Fluid Goods
  • Solid Goods
• Temperature Control
  • Non-Temperature Controlled
  • Temperature Controlled
• Country
  • United States
  • Canada
  • Mexico

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

• A.P. Moller - Maersk
• ArcBest
• C.H. Robinson
• Canada Cartage
• CMA CGM Group (including CEVA Logistics)
• DHL Group
• DSV A/S (De Sammensluttede Vognmænd af Air and Sea)
• FedEx
• J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.
• Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.
• Landstar System Inc.
• Old Dominion Freight Line
• Penske
• Ryder System, Inc.
• Schneider National, Inc.
• Transportes Marva
• Traxion
• United Parcel Service of America, Inc. (UPS)
• Werner Enterprises Inc.
• XPO, Inc.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support