Truck Freight Value by Mode: Reading the 2024 BTS Baseline

The BTS Transportation Statistics Annual Report 2025 table reports 2024 freight by mode. Truck movements account for 12,844 million tons and $18.079 trillion in current-dollar value in that table. The figures describe national freight flows, not a single carrier's revenue.

Methodology

We read the BTS annual report alongside FAF, CFS, Census, transborder, EIA, and BLS documentation. The report notes that updated FAF inputs can make the table non-comparable with earlier versions. We therefore treat the 2024 row as a dated baseline, not a timeless series.

Findings

Measure	2024 truck entry	Meaning
Tons	12,844 million	physical freight flow
Value	$18,079 billion	current-dollar flow value
Domestic tons	11,905 million	domestic component
Import/export tons	938 million combined	gateway-linked component

Value is influenced by commodity mix and prices. It is not billed revenue, truckload rate, or profit. Multiple modes and mail are classified separately when a shipment changes modes, so totals require reading the report's definitions.

Operational interpretation

Use the table to frame commodity and mode exposure, then validate lane decisions with actual booked loads, miles, rates, accessorials, and empty repositioning. Keep nominal and real-dollar questions separate. The research hub has related freight indicators and operations support can help maintain a monthly evidence packet.

Limitations

FAF is a modeled flow dataset. Classification, gateway treatment, revisions, and current-dollar presentation matter. National value cannot establish local demand or carrier margin.

Sources

1. BTS, TSAR 2025.
2. BTS, FAF.
3. BTS, Freight Facts.
4. FHWA, FAF guide.
5. Census, CFS.
6. Census, Economic Census.
7. BTS, freight transportation.
8. BTS, Transborder Freight.
9. EIA, energy data.
10. BLS, PPI.