Welcome to HDT’s sixth annual Fact Book, a fascinating overview of our industry by the numbers. The following pages of graphs, charts, tables, and infographics are designed to not only give you a snapshot of the industry at this point in time, but also to serve as a reference guide you can keep handy throughout the year.
2020 HDT Fact Book
Accurate data and information are critical to making good decisions. Our editorial team has combed through publicly available statistics and worked with researchers and analysts to bring you insights on the current state of the industry, as well as historical trends and future forecasts.

Accurate data and information are critical to making good decisions. Our editorial team has combed through publicly available statistics and worked with researchers and analysts to bring you insights on the current state of the industry, as well as historical trends and future forecasts. These numbers can help you in planning and benchmarking your fleet, and in telling trucking’s story to others.
New this year is a section on COVID-19. Since the outbreak first hit in March, the trucking industry has seen its fair share of ups and downs. From gutted grocery stores demanding to be restocked to state laws calling for lockdowns and affecting interstate travel, commercial truck fleets have been put through the ringer.
Let us know how we can continue to make the Fact Book better next year by contacting Managing Editor Stephane Babcock.
More Fleet Management

Cargo Theft Incidents Fall in Q1, but Organized Crime and Impersonation Drive New Risks
CargoNet reports fewer supply chain crime events to start 2026. But losses hold steady as organized crime shifts tactics toward impersonation schemes and high-value goods.
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Nominations Open for HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026
Heavy Duty Trucking is searching for forward-looking leaders at trucking fleets as nominations for HDT’s Truck Fleet Innovators 2026. Deadline is May 15.
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New Trojan Driver Cargo Theft Scam Bypasses Carrier Vetting Systems
Cargo theft rings plant operatives as drivers inside legitimate, fully vetted carriers, then execute coordinated thefts that look like a traditional straight theft from the outside.
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March Truck Tonnage Posts Strongest Annual Gain Since 2022
A modest sequential increase capped the strongest quarterly performance in years, signaling continued freight momentum in early 2026.
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Ohio Turnpike Targets $5.2 Million in Unpaid Tolls from Trucking Firms
More than 300 carriers across 26 states have been sent to collections as the Ohio Turnpike cracks down on toll evasion and delinquent payments.
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'Beyond Compliance,' Regulations, Driver Coaching on ATRI’s 2026 Research List
The American Transportation Research Institute will examine driver coaching, regulatory impacts — including the "Beyond Compliance" concept —and weather disruptions that shape trucking operations.
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Fleet Advantage's Brian Antonellis on the Growing Need to Replace Old Trucks
Fleet Advantage's Brian Antonellis says it's time for fleets to get back to the fundamentals of good maintenance practices. And that includes replacing older, inefficient equipment.
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Truckstop.com Adding to Open Deck, Heavy Haul Offerings
Load matching for flatbed, lowbed, oversize and overweight loads can't be automated like basic van freight, but Truckstop.com is adding more high-tech tools to help.
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Trucker Path, Truckstop.com Expand Load Access Partnership
An expanded Trucker Path and Truckstop.com integration brings more freight opportunities into the TruckLoads app while emphasizing security and network quality.
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Truckload Rates Hit Two-Year Highs as Diesel Costs Surge, DAT Says
Strong March freight demand combined with a spike in fuel costs pushed both spot and contract truckload rates to their highest levels in more than two years.
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