Study: 'Trucking will dominate freight movement'

Despite current slowdowns, trucking will continue to dominate freight movement well into the future.

A study commissioned by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) projects that freight tonnage will increase by 26% and total freight transportation revenue will grow 68% by the year 2020.

The trucking industry's share of total tonnage will rise from 68.8% currently to nearly 80% by 2020. By contrast, the railroad industry's overall tonnage share is expected to fall from 14.9% currently to 14.7% by that year, according to the study.

"Like other industries, trucking is experiencing a very difficult time during the current recession," says ATA CEO Bill Graves. "Yet all signs point to a strong, long-term future for our industry.

"Trucking exclusively serves 80% of all communities in the U.S. for the products and goods they receive."