The trucking industry is a crucial part of the US economy. Let's take a closer look at its history, current state, and future prospects.
1896: The truck is born
Inventor Gottlieb Daimler in 1896 converted a horse-drawn cart to be fitted with Phoenix, which was the name he gave to a rear-mounted, four-horsepower, two-cylinder engine he’d designed from a modified passenger car engine. It was the world’s first truck: an automated version of the carts pulled by horse or donkey for millennia. Four years later in 1900, Jack and Gus Mack of Brooklyn, N.Y., founded the company that would become Mack Trucks, which would become the standard-bearer of the modern trucking industry.
1912: Teamster drivers make the first transcontinental delivery
In 1912, a five-man crew of Teamster drivers from the Charles W. Young Company of Philadelphia departed with three tons of Parrot brand olive oil soap bound for Petaluma, Calif. With virtually no maintained roads and a complete absence of creature comforts, the crew arrived at City Hall in San Francisco in a record 91 days. As the first transcontinental delivery, the dangerous journey captivated the nation and started a new chapter in the story of American industry. The era of over-the-road trucking had begun.
1914-15: The modern truck emerges
Otto Neumann and August Fruehauf in 1914 invented the semi-trailer. A year later in 1915, Hermann Farr and Martin Rocking unveiled the fifth wheel, a coupling device that made it possible to quickly and safely hitch and unhitch semis to trailers. The modern tractor-trailer was born.Fruehauf in 1918 established the Fruehauf Trailer Company in Detroit. That business, which acquired more than 1,000 patents, exploded into a global powerhouse with 16 plants 80 distributorships in the U.S., as well as locations throughout the world.
1933: American Trucking Associations is formed
The American Highway Freight Association and the Federation Trucking Associations of America merged in 1933 to form the American Trucking Associations (ATA). The ATA is the nation’s largest trucking industry trade association and includes affiliated trucking associations from all 50 states.
1940s: Trucking dominates post-war America
The economic boom that followed World War II launched American trucking into the modern era as Americans began spending their newfound wealth on luxury goods that had been rationed during wartime. The trucking industry skyrocketed thanks to innovations like the powerful diesel engine, the refrigerated truck container, and a maze of new roads: The country went from 521,000 paved miles in 1925 to 1.72 million in 1945. In the post-war era, trucks surpassed trains as the primary conveyor of goods and products for the first time since the Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869.
2016: First self-driving truck
At the end of October 2016, a truck hauled 2,000 cases of Budweiser 120 miles from Fort Collins, Col., to Colorado Springs. It was the kind of delivery that countless truckers had made countless times before. But this time, there was no driver. In partnership with Anheuser-Busch, a start-up called Otto launched one of its new self-driving trucks on a successful mission that the company claims is a window into a future without truck drivers.
Challenges and COVID-19 impact
While the trucking industry faces challenges such as high fuel costs, driver shortages, and highway congestion, the COVID-19 pandemic has added immense pressure. Lockdowns and travel restrictions led to a decline in demand for trucking services, forcing layoffs and business closures. However, truckers have been essential during the pandemic, delivering supplies to hospitals and grocery stores.
Industry today and future prospects
The US trucking industry plays a vital role, employing over 3 million people and generating billions of dollars in revenue. However, it faces challenges from technology advancements, stricter regulations, and driver shortages. Despite these obstacles, the trucking industry remains critical to the American economy and will continue to contribute significantly in the years to come.
Conclusion
The trucking industry has a rich history, starting with the invention of the truck in 1896. Over time, it has evolved with important inventions like the semi-trailer and fifth wheel. The American Trucking Associations formed in 1933, and trucking became the dominant method of transport in post-war America. The industry faces challenges such as fuel costs, driver shortages, and the impact of COVID-19. Despite these obstacles, the trucking industry remains vital to the US economy, employing millions of people and generating significant revenue.