Trucking Trends — Houston Truck Accident Lawyers

Our Houston truck accident lawyers proudly assist those who are entitled to compensation as a result of a serious trucking injuries or wrongful deaths.  Here, we discuss recent trucking industry developments reported by United States’ largest trucking organization.

About The ATA

American Trucking Associations (“ATA”) is the “largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight.”

Its mission is to “effectively advocate and communicate efforts designed to improve safety and profitability for our members,” which includes the following five core objectives:

1. To position trucking as a recognized safety-first industry.
2. To increase the industry’s efficiency and productivity
3. To brand ATA as “The Voice of the Trucking Industry.”
4. To provide thought leadership that engages and educates the trucking industry and the public
5. To responsibly grow financial and human resources to fulfill our mission.

2015 Trucking Trends

Every year, the ATA publishes a Trucking Trends report that discuss industry developments and data.  This year’s version revealed that, in 2014:

• Tractor trailer trucks moved nearly 10 billion tons of freight. This is 69% of all domestic freight.
• Semis generated over $700 billion in revenue, over 80% of all freight transportation spending.
• 7 million people worked in the trucking business, including 3.4 million drivers.
• There were 1.3 million trucking motor carriers. That is nearly 70 times the number that existed before the trucking industry was deregulated.

More Findings From The Study

The Trucking Trends Study further revealed:

• The average combination truck drove 69,000 miles in 2013
• Nearly 1/3 of states have excessive speed limits, putting drivers and passengers of cars and truck at risk of serious injury and death. Mid-level offenders include Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. The states with the most dangerously unsafe speed limits are Idaho, South Dakota, Utah, and Texas.
• Speeding is the most common factor in fatal car crashes
• It has been nine years since the ATA called for trucks to have mandatory speed governors that prevent truckers from speeding and causing personal injury accidents.
• A truck traveling 65 mph uses 27% less fuel than one traveling at 75 mph.
• It can take a truck 100 yards to stop, which means truck drivers need to pass safely to avoid causing serious truck accidents.
• Each year tractor trailers and large trucks deliver 888 basketballs to the Final Four, 40 million boxes of Valentine’s Day chocolates, 33 million Christmas trees, 46 million Thanksgiving turkeys and 257 million roses.
• Trucks haul 55% of all U.S.-Canada Trade and 65% of all U.S.-Mexico trade.
• The trucking business delivers more cargo in nine days than the intermodal rail system delivers in an entire year.
• Total U.S. Freight tonnage is projected to grow 23.5% by 2025, from 14 billion tons to 17 billion tons.
• The truck loads delivered in 2013 would stretch from the Earth to the Moon more than 11 times.

Our Texas Truck Accident Lawyers Assist Injured Drivers & Passengers

Morrow & Sheppard are privileged to represent victims and families affected by trucking accidents.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious personal injury, or if a loved one has died, please contact us now to discuss your case.  There are many reasons why you should contact an attorney as soon as possible.

We offer 100% free and confidential consultations. These consultations do not obligate you to hire us or file a claim. And, if you do hire us, we only get paid if you win.