Motor freight trucking is a huge industry in the United States and elsewhere in the world. The trucking industry in the United States generally entails the transport and distributing of commercial goods using motor vehicles. The motor freight industry is invaluable because it transports raw materials as well as finished good across the country by land. Motor freight trucking is the upmost importance because of the advantage it has over rail transportation in terms of versatility. Whenever you have a shipment that is too large to be picked up by parcel services like UPS or FedEx you will need to schedule a pickup with a motor freight carrier. Motor freight carriers have dispatchers that can be contacted who will then set up a pickup from a distribution hub in your vicinity. Freight forwarders can help with the logistics of distributing your products as well. A freight forwarder will set you up with freight carriers that can transport you product most efficiently and cheaply.

The most common vehicle used is the truck although van transports can also fall under this umbrella. Semis, box trucks, and dump trucks are the most common vehicles found in the motor freight industry. Motor freight trucking generally refers to loads being pulled by semi and box trucks. These trucks, also knows as tractor trailers or big rigs, are made by a variety of companies. Some of the most common semi manufacturers are Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Mack, Volvo, International, and Western Star. Most motor freight trucking companies utilize several different brands of semi trucks within their fleet. A drive of a motor freight truck is commonly referred to as a trucker and must have a CDL license to operate his or her vehicle. CDL means commercial driver’s license. Large trucks and buses require a CDL to operate. Acquiring a CDL requires mastering skills particular to operating and maneuvering an exceptionally large vehicle such as a tractor trailer.

Motor freight trucking is now the most common method for transporting good over land. Today there are over 25 millions trucks on the road. This was not always true however. Before 1900 the railroads still dominated over land transportation. Motor freight transportation really took off once the interstate highway system was put into motion. This allowed for the transport of good all over the countries and not limited where rail was laid down. In the 1970’s trucking was at its peak and a trucking culture emerged. This culture entails certain traditions like using CB radio for communication, wearing plaid shirts, a flat panel trucker hats. The trucker image of the 1970’s was like that of a modern day cowboy.

Jobs in the trucking industry are highly sought after but can be easy to come by depending on what area of motor freight trucking you are trying to gain access to. Truck driving jobs require a dedication to being on the road and the ability to go long periods of time without being home. Motor freight trucking is a dangerous industry. Truck drivers are five times more likely to die due to work related causes than the average American worker. Working conditions are also very hard on a trucker. Many spend weeks away from home on the road. Turnover rates for long haul truck drivers are around 136%. This is exceptionally high for any line of work. Less than truckload carriers, also known as LTL, experience much lower turnover rates because the quality of life for these drivers is generally better. The number of hours that truck drivers can log over a particular period of time is regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration which is overseen by the US Department of Transportation. Truck drivers keep track of their hours using log books. Truck driving jobs are one of the more regulated individual civilian jobs out there.

The environmental effects of motor freight trucking have come under scrutiny over the years. Trucks contribute to air pollution and water pollution but actually have a lower impact on these areas than automobiles when pollution per pound of vehicle mass is taken into consideration. The National Motor Freight Traffic Association and American Trucking Associations help advance the interest of motor freight trucking companies in the United States. Truckers are generally eligible to be members of the Teamsters Union.

Some of the most prominent motor freight carriers are Schneider National, Swift Transportation, JB Hunt, New England Motor Freight, Old Dominion Freight Line, Estes Express Lines, and Werner Enterprises. Schneider National trucks are often seen on highways and the company is known for hiring new truck drivers. Schneider and Swift offer long haul services while companies like Estes and Old Dominion concentrate of LTL trucking.