The American Trucking Assns. (ATA) has released American Trucking Trends 2008-2009, an annual state of the industry report that provides information on U.S. truck tonnage, employment numbers, freight revenues, engine sales, modal share and international trucking.

“This report highlights the essential role that safe, reliable and efficient motors carriers play in our nation’s economy,” said ATA president & CEO Bill Graves. “Nearly every good consumed in the United States is put on a truck at some point. Americans need to keep in mind that the national economy is directly linked to an effective transportation industry.”   

According to the report, 8.9 million people were employed in trucking-related jobs, with nearly 3.5 million of those drivers. Trucks used for business purposes in 2006 logged 432.9 billion miles, with Class 8 trucks accounting for 139.3 billion miles, while they consumed 53.9 billion gallons of fuel for business purposes and paid $37.4 billion in federal and state highway-user taxes.

The report also includes statistics of the industry’s role in domestic and international commerce, noting that trucks transported 57.8% of the value of trade between the United States and Canada in 2007, up 3.4% from the previous year, and transported 66.2% of the value of trade between the United States and Mexico, up 4.8%.

American Trucking Trends 2008-2009 also includes safety statistics, top trailer manufacturers, highway-user taxes, U.S. motor carrier size and distribution, trucking employment by state, fuel consumption and emissions data, ATA said. It can be purchased at ATABusinessSolutions.com or by calling 866-821-3468.