Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2016-2031)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $16.1bn in 2026.
Trends and Insights
Driver vacancies constrain capacity and incentivize higher wages
- Canadian local freight trucking continues to face structural labor shortages, despite recent improvements in vacancy rates. Fewer younger workers join carriers while more veteran drivers retire. According to Trucking HR Canada, administrative and HR positions within the trucking and logistics industry declined year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025. However, the employment of transport truck drivers increased by 1.5% over the same time period. If demographic pressures intensify while recruitment of younger candidates remains weak, truckers may see driver vacancies over the next five years.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2026-2031)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
AI and sensor networks are likely to transform local freight operations
- Local freight carriers are deploying artificial intelligence to analyze traffic patterns, optimize routes and reduce fuel consumption. According to the National Research Council of Canada, Canada Cartage and Bison Transport collaborate on AI tools that anticipate congestion and minimize travel distances. This lowers costs while advancing net-zero targets. Telematics sensors capture vehicle performance and route efficiency data, enabling the scheduling of predictive maintenance. This digitalization allows expansion into intermodal and less-than-truckload services by identifying optimal distribution methods for specific freight corridors.
Biggest companies in the Local Freight Trucking in Canada
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue
2025 | Profit
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|
There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Local Freight Trucking in Canada industry.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Truckload services, Less-than-truckload services and Intermodal services. Truckload services is the largest segment of the Local Freight Trucking in Canada.
Trends and Insights
A rise in overall trade activity boosts demand for truckload services
- Truckload carriers handle shipments weighing more than 4,536.0 kilograms. These carriers also dedicate entire trucks to a single customer and make door-to-door deliveries of goods between terminals and distribution hubs. This segment is less labour-intensive than less-than-truckload (LTL) services. Truckers often travel directly to the delivery place, eliminating the need for a complex network of terminals and shortening the delivery time.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Operators in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada provide general freight trucking services over short distances. General freight companies handle a variety of commodities, which are usually palletized and transported in a container or van trailer. Local general freight trucking companies commonly provide trucking within a metropolitan area that may cross provincial borders and these trips are typically same-day return.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada include Truckload services, Less-than-truckload services, Intermodal services, Dry-bulk services and Other services.Companies
Companies covered in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada include .Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada include truckload, less-than-truckload (ltl) and fuel surcharge.Industry Code
NAICS 484110 - Local 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
The trend toward just-in-time inventory and outsourced distribution bolsters local truckers by increasing the frequency of shipments. Despite fuel cost challenges, the need f...
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 (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Employees, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Businesses, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Profit, including historical (2016-2026)
- 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
Trucking companies expanded their services. Companies that offer warehousing, distribution, repacking, storage and freight forwarding secure their place in global supply chai...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2026
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2026
- Major market segmentation in 2026
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
Ontario's strategic location and infrastructure significantly boost its freight transportation industry. Its dense network of roads and major cross-border bridges enhances lo...
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 2026
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each province in 2026
- Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of employees in each province in 2026
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
Trucking companies compete on price, reliability and speed. A strong reputation for quality service can justify slightly higher freight rates. Companies with a history of on-...
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 2021-2026
- 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
There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Local Freight Trucking in Canada industry.
Analyst insights
Small and medium-sized companies dominate the local freight trucking industry. Larger freight companies often subcontract work to these smaller truckers to reduce downtime. S...
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Canadian truckers adhere to environmental and workplace standards. Companies can face heavy fines for violating hours of service, the National Safety Code and emissions stand...
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 (2016-2031)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
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
Rising wage costs limited profit growth. Companies can’t keep up with per-employee wage hikes despite automating many logistics operations. This imbalance puts pressure on pr...
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 2026
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2019-2024)
- Coverage Ratios (2019-2024)
- Leverage Ratios (2019-2024)
- Operating Ratios (2019-2024)
- Assets (2019-2024)
- Liabilities (2019-2024)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Employee (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Employees per Establishment (2016-2031)
- Employees per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Average Wage (2016-2031)
- Wages/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- IVA/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Imports/Demand (2016-2031)
- Exports/Revenue (2016-2031)
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 (2016-2031)
- IVA (2016-2031)
- Establishments (2016-2031)
- Enterprises (2016-2031)
- Employment (2016-2031)
- Exports (2016-2031)
- Imports (2016-2031)
- Wages (2016-2031)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada in 2026?
The market size of the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada is $16.1bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada in 2026?
There are 41,545 businesses in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.8 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada?
The Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada?
The Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada is expected to grow.
What does the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada include?
Truckload services and Less-than-truckload services are part of the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada.
How competitive is the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Local Freight Trucking industry in Canada.
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.
