Trucking Drives the Economy

Employment: In 2011, the trucking industry in Wyoming provided 276,120 jobs, or one out of 17 in the state. Total trucking industry wages paid in Wyoming in 2011 exceeded $12.7 billion, with an average annual trucking industry salary of $46,116. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in May 2011 that truck drivers, heavy, tractor-trailer and light, delivery drivers, held 106,890 jobs with a mean annual salary of $36,935.

Small Business Emphasis: In 2012, there were over 21,530 trucking companies located in Wyoming, 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 86 percent of total manufactured tonnage in the state in 2010 or 1,150,214 tons per day. Over 88 percent of Wyoming communities depend exclusively on trucks to move their goods.

TRUCKING PAYS THE FREIGHT

As an Industry: In 2009, the trucking industry in Wyoming paid approximately $1.5 billion in federal and state roadway taxes and fees. The industry paid 37 percent of all taxes and fees owed by Wyoming motorists, despite trucks representing only 11 percent of vehicle miles traveled in the state.

Individual Companies: As of January 2013, a typical five-axle tractor-semitrailer combination paid $7,811 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 Wyoming.

Roadway Use: In 2008, Wyoming had 121,771 miles of public roads over which all motorists traveled 108 billion miles. Trucking's use of the public roads was 11.7 billion miles.