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Long-Distance Freight Trucking in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Oliwier Samorajski Oliwier Samorajski New York, United States Last Updated: October 2024 NAICS 48412CA

Revenue

$31.3bn

2024

$31.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

112k

Businesses

63,413

Wages

$X.Xbn

Long-Distance Freight Trucking in Canada industry analysis

Revenue for long-distance freight trucking services is expected to grow alongside favourable consumer trends. The pandemic era saw a heightened reliance on online shopping, leading to a rising number of parcel deliveries and bolstering revenue for trucking companies. Still, the period was marked by challenges like volatile diesel prices, which complicated pricing strategies and pressured trucking firms' competitiveness against rail distribution. The industry grappled with labor shortages as an aging workforce continued to retire and younger workers sought alternative careers, prompting companies to elevate wages to attract new drivers. Revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.0% to $31.3 billion through the end of 2024, including growth of 1.2% in 2024 alone.

Trends and Insights

  • Resilient consumer spending supported growth in freight trucking companies despite economic volatility. As more consumers shop online and source goods globally, demand for parcel transport has increased, leading to higher revenues for the sector.
  • There’s stiff internal competition between truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping options. The largest TL carriers have low-profit margins and generate less revenue per ton than LTL carriers.
  • Proximity to nearby markets is essential. Companies with high transportation costs will struggle to compete effectively.
  • Low barriers to entry keep the freight trucking market competitive. Minimal capital requirements allow individuals to easily start a business, fostering an expansion in nonemployer establishments.
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Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Industry Overview

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $31.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Consumption levels are supporting revenue growth despite volatility

  • Resilient spending through most of the period supported the expansion of order volumes. A larger share of income going towards essentials like rent, healthcare and food soured consumer sentiment and reduced spending on other goods, which lowered growth for long-distance truckers late in the period.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Long-Distance Freight Trucking in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The rebound in economic growth is expected to support revenue expansion

  • Consumer spending is expected to jump, prompting manufacturers to ramp up production to meet demand for various goods, necessitating freight transportation services to deliver inputs.

Biggest companies in the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
TFI International
1,149.4
167.8
14.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Long-Distance Freight Trucking in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Truckload carriers, Less-than-truckload carriers and Other. Truckload carriers is the largest segment of the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Truckload carriers comprise the largest share of revenue

  • Truckload (TL) carriers are dedicated entirely to one customer and make door-to-door deliveries of goods, making this segment less labour-intensive than less-than-truckload (LTL). Companies don't need intermediate freight-consolidation facilities, leading to low start-up costs.
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Competitors

  • Scheduled Air Transportation in Canada
  • Rail Transportation in Canada
  • Ocean & Coastal Transportation in Canada
  • Local Freight Trucking in Canada

Complementors

  • Tank & Refrigeration Trucking in Canada
  • Freight Packing & Logistics Services in Canada
  • Couriers & Local Delivery Services in Canada

International industries

  • Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US
  • Tank & Refrigeration Trucking in the US
  • Vehicle Shipping Services in the US
  • Long-Distance Refrigerated Trucking in the US
  • Road Freight Transport in Australia

View all industries in Canada

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Long-Distance Freight Trucking industry in Canada provides long-distance general freight trucking between metropolitan areas. The industry provides truckload services in addition to less-than-truckload services. The movement of specialized freight isn't included in this industry, though many operators generate marginal revenue through specialized freight activities.

What's included in this industry?

Long-distance truckload transportationLong-distance less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation

Companies

TFI International

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

TRUCKLOADLESS-THAN-TRUCKLOAD (LTL)FUEL SURCHARGEJUST-IN-TIME (JIT)DELIVERED IN-FULL AND ON-TIME (DIFOT)

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 48412 - Long-Distance Freight Trucking in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Resilient consumer spending supported growth in freight trucking companies despite economic volatility. As more consumers shop online and source goods globally, demand for pa...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

There’s stiff internal competition between truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping options. The largest TL carriers have low-profit margins and generate less re...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Proximity to nearby markets is essential. Companies with high transportation costs will struggle to compete effectively.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Low barriers to entry keep the freight trucking market competitive. Minimal capital requirements allow individuals to easily start a business, fostering an expansion in nonem...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

TFI International expanded its presence in North America by acquiring UPS Freight, gaining access to an established network and customer base. The acquisition aligns with TFI...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of TFI International 's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for TFI International , and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) enforces emissions standards for pollutants. It necessitates compliance through periodic emissions testing, pushing manufactu...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Fuel surcharges help offset rising fuel costs for trucking companies. When fuel prices exceed a certain threshold, companies can implement surcharges to generate additional r...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the market size of the Long-Distance Freight Trucking industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Long-Distance Freight Trucking industry in Canada is $31.3bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 63,413 businesses in the Long-Distance Freight Trucking industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Long-Distance Freight Trucking industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Long-Distance Freight Trucking industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Long-Distance Freight Trucking industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Long-Distance Freight Trucking industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Long-Distance Freight Trucking market in Canada?

The biggest company operating in the Long-Distance Freight Trucking market in Canada is TFI International

What does the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in Canada include?

Long-distance truckload transportation and Long-distance less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation are part of the Long-Distance Freight Trucking industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is TFI International .

How competitive is the Long-Distance Freight Trucking industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Long-Distance Freight Trucking industry in Canada.