Road Haulage Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Global Industry Analysis: Type (International Road Haulage and Domestic Road Haulage), Vehicle (Light Commercial Vehicles and Heavy Commercial Vehicles), Application (Mining and Construction, Oil and Gas, Food and Beverage, Retail, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Automotive, and Others) and Region Forecast 2019-2030

Road Haulage Market size was valued at US$ 4,341.2 million in 2023 and grew at a significant CAGR of 5.9% from 2024-2030. Moreover, the U.S. Road Haulage market is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of US$  2,850.8 million by 2032.

Road haulage is transportation of goods by road vehicles, such as trucks and lorries, and plays a significant role in the world of logistics and supply chains. Markets are fueled by factors like growing e-commerce, infrastructure developments, and the globalizing of trading; challenges for the industry include increasing fuel prices, labor shortages due to drivers, and increasing strict controls on the environment. A rapidly changing sector with the introduction of route optimization and IoT integration, coupled with trends in adopting sustainable practices such as electric trucks, fundamentally alters it. North America and Europe are leaders due to advanced infrastructure; Asia-Pacific is growing rapidly and filled with possibilities due to urbanization and industrialization. Market growth is seen as positive because steady growth will occur from rising trade activities and innovative solutions.

Key players

The Road Haulage market share is inclusive of several companies such as CONCOR (India), Kindersley Transport Ltd. (U.S.), Gosselin Group (Belgium), LKW WALTER (Austria), Monarch Transport (Canada), AM Cargo (Spain), Manitoulin Transport Inc. (Canada), SLH Transport Inc. (Canada), Woodside Logistics Group (U.K.), and UK Haulier (U.K.)

Top companies in Road Haulage Market

CONCOR and Kindersley Transport Ltd. are important players in their geographical territories and add up to the broader market by improving efficiency, sustainability, and technology adoption in transportation. CONCOR has focused on the growing infrastructure in India, while Kindersley plays an important role in North America's road freight sector, contributing to smooth long-haul solutions for transportation. Both are crucial in developing intermodal logistics networks, which are increasingly becoming essential in a globally interconnected economy.

Facts & Figures

• The demand in the trucking sector increased in March 2023 on roads in the US while amounting to 72.7% of all freight moved by all modes of transport.
• As of December 2022, the EU had 6.4 million vehicles in use for road freight transport, a 3% rise in comparison with previous years.
• In the UK, road haulage employment stood at around 214,000 in early 2023. Consequently, the industry had shown a smooth growth trend over the past five years.
• Asia-Pacific-based road freight market was responsible for more than 90% of the total land-based freight volume in 2022.
• Average cost per mile for long-distance freight trucking in North America was $2.85 in Q2 2022. It could be easily interpreted that inflationary pressure remained steady.
• According to the US Department of Transportation, as of February 2024, freight truck activity had risen by 4.2% over the quarter before.
• The European road transport sector accounted for nearly 70% of all transport-related CO2 emissions in 2023, making it a difficult challenge in terms of environmental performance.

Key Takeaways

• North America is the largest market, largely dominated by the US. North American demand constitutes 39.2% of the overall global demand for the market.
• Based on Type, the domestic road haulage segment holds the 58.3% market share
• Based on Vehicle, the heavy commercial vehicle segment holds a 63.2% market share
• Based on Applications, retail segment holds the 32.1% market share

Key Developments

• In 2022, DHL acquired Williams Lea Tag to improve logistics services, focusing on digitalization and optimizing the transportation of goods, particularly in the road haulage segment.
• In 2022, Tesla launched its electric semi-truck, the Tesla Semi, which is expected to revolutionize the market by offering zero-emissions transportation and cutting down operational costs for logistics companies.
• In 2021, Volvo launched the Volvo FH Electric series of trucks, marking a major step in their electric vehicle strategy for the haulage market, addressing the demand for greener solutions in logistics.

Road Haulage Market Segmentation

By Type: In the market, the domestic road haulage segment typically holds the largest market share. This dominance is driven by the high volume of goods transported within countries to meet local industrial, commercial, and consumer demands. Domestic haulage benefits from well-established infrastructure, shorter delivery times, and lower complexities compared to international haulage, which faces challenges such as cross-border regulations, tariffs, and customs procedures. Additionally, the rise of e-commerce and just-in-time delivery services further amplifies the demand for domestic transportation solutions, solidifying its lead in the market.

By Vehicle: In the market, the share of the heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs) segment dominates the market. HCVs are a preferred mode of transporting bulk goods over long distances very economically and are forming the backbone of industries such as construction, manufacturing, and agriculture. These vehicles can have a larger payload, thereby cutting transportation costs per unit to an extent that is economical for large-scale operations. Another reason is that the increasing global trade and the proliferation of e-commerce market create additional demands for HCVs, as significant distribution sections are generally located in warehouse-to-distribution centre logistics.

By Application: The retail segment accounts for the largest market share in the market. This is primarily due to the strong demand in both retail and industrial sectors wherein goods are transported across supply chains-from raw materials to the finished product. The growth in e-commerce has also led to increased demand for effective road haulage to expedite delivery in the last-mile and in warehouses. Manufacturing industries also avail of just-in-time logistics extensively that require road transport. This segment is also the largest market contributor to the economy.