An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2025 Update

This report presents the results of a survey of for-hire motor carriers on 2024 operational costs. The survey, conducted during February 2025-May 2025, included 178,091 combination truck-tractors. Data includes: regional costs, fleet size, driver compensation, fuel costs, equipment costs, truck insurance premiums, and other marginal costs. Overall, the average cost per mile for motor carriers, in 2024 was $2.26 per mile, a 0.4% decrease from 2023's $2.27 per mile. Costs per hour were $90.89 in 2024 as compared to $91.27 in 2023, a 0.4% decrease. Fuel costs in 2024 were 48.1 cents per mile as compared to 2023's 55.3 cents per mile, a 13% decrease. Lease or purchase payments for trucks and trailers increased 8.3%, insurance premiums increased by 3.0%, and repair and maintenance costs decreased by 2.0%. The average driver wage per-mile increased to 79.8 cents per mile in 2024, a 2.4% increase from 2023's 77.9 cents per mile.

• Record URL:
  • https://truckingresearch.org/2025/07/an-analysis-of-the-operational-costs-of-trucking-2025-update/
• Corporate Authors:

  American Transportation Research Institute

  Minneapolis, MN  United States 
• Authors:
  • Leslie, Alex
  • Murray, Dan
• Publication Date: 2025-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 67p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: For hire carriers; Operating costs; Statistical trends; Surveys; Trucking
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Motor Carriers;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01962909
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 11 2025 9:07AM