Specialty Trucking Industry Profile

Companies in this industry provide long-distance transportation by truck of freight that often has atypical shapes, weights, or sizes and may require specialized equipment such as flatbeds, tankers, car carriers, or refrigerated trailers. Major US companies include CH Robinson, CR England, Jack Cooper Transport, Kenan Advantage Group, and Quality Distribution, along with units of general freight trucking companies like JB Hunt and Schneider National.

The US specialty trucking industry includes about 11,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $40 billion.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by manufacturing output and consumer spending. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations. Large companies have advantages in account relationships, bulk fuel purchasing, fleet size, and access to drivers. Small operations can compete effectively by providing quick turnaround or specializing in a particular industry. The US specialized trucking industry is fragmented: the 50 largest companies account for about 40% of industry revenue.

Trucking competes with other forms of cargo transportation, including rail, air, and water. However, the shift toward intermodal transportation means that these modes of delivery are often more complementary than competitive. Specialty trucking services also compete with general truckload and less-than-truckload carriers.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Specialized freight includes transportation of climate-controlled box and pallet goods, which account for about 30% of the industry's revenue. This is followed by bulk liquids and gases at more than 20%. Other services include transportation of ...