Trucking Drives the Economy

Employment: In 2011, the trucking industry in Wisconsin provided 156,660 jobs, or one out of 15 in the state. Total trucking industry wages paid in Wisconsin in 2011 exceeded $6.7 billion, with an average annual trucking industry salary of $42,612. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in May 2011 that truck drivers, heavy, tractor-trailer and light, delivery drivers, held 61,030 jobs with a mean annual salary of $35,155.

Small Business Emphasis: In 2012, there were over 20,000 trucking companies located in Wisconsin, most of them small, locally owned businesses. These companies are served by a wide range of supporting businesses both large and small.

Transportation of Essential Products: Trucks transported 90% of total manufactured tonnage in the state in 2010 or 597,297 tons per day.* Over 77% of Wisconsin communities depend exclusively on trucks to move their goods.

Trucking Pays The Freight

As an Industry: In 2009, the trucking industry in Wisconsin paid approximately $752 million in federal and state roadway taxes and fees. The industry paid 36% of all taxes and fees owed by Wisconsin motorists, despite trucks representing only 19% of vehicle miles traveled in the state.

Individual Companies: As of January 2013, a typical five-axle tractor-semitrailer combination paid $7,874 in state highway user fees and taxes in addition to $8,906 in federal user fees and taxes. These taxes were over and above the typical taxes paid by businesses in Wisconsin.

Roadway Use: In 2008, Wisconsin had 114,844 miles of public roads over which all motorists traveled 58 billion miles. Trucking’s use of the public roads was 11 billion miles.

* Manufactured tonnage data provided by IHS Global Insight