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

Oliwier Samorajski Oliwier Samorajski New York, United States Last Updated: November 2024 NAICS 48423CA

Revenue

$16.7bn

2024

$16.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

40,995

Businesses

11,672

Wages

$X.Xbn

Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking in Canada industry analysis

The trucking industry navigated a challenging economic landscape. Companies grappled with economic volatility fueled by inflationary pressures, tightened monetary policy and rising fuel costs, which complicated the landscape, particularly for long-distance trucking companies competing against more efficient transport modes like intermodal and rail. Despite these hurdles, the industry benefited by offering flexible delivery services tailored to a diverse range of industries, from manufacturing and wholesale to perishable goods. Revenue is expected to increase at a CAGR of 0.5% to $16.6 billion through the end of 2024, including growth of 0.5% in 2024 alone. 

Trends and Insights

  • Trucking companies are prioritizing driver safety by investing in technology-equipped fleets. Innovations like cargo sensors and digital dashboards have significantly reduced accidents and associated costs, enhancing safety on long-haul routes.
  • Climate-controlled packed goods distribution remains stable, supported by consistent consumer demand for perishable items. Companies in this sector use insulated and refrigerated trucks to maintain the necessary environments for transporting goods like meat, dairy, and pharmaceuticals.
  • Population sustains demand for trucking. Warehouses and distribution centers are more often located in dense metropolitan areas, so tank and refrigeration truckers commonly locate near populated areas to bring products to the source of demand.
  • Price is key to securing demand. Large companies can often leverage forward fuel purchasing contracts with wholesalers to offer lower prices than competing truckers that are tacking on fuel surcharges.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $16.7bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The industry's heavy saturation dipped momentarily

  • As revenue failed to immediately return to growth in the aftermath of COVID-19, some trucking companies weren't able to weather the challenges and were forced to close down permanently.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Long-Distance Specialized 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

Monetary easing will support the recovery in downstream markets

  • The easing of the policy rate will lower the borrowing costs and support a recovery in economic activity. The expected pickup in growth and manufacturing output will drive distribution services across specialized freight transport and support expansion after a muted performance between 2019 and 2024 as the industry struggled to shake off the impacts of the pandemic.

Biggest companies in the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($short_0)
2024
Profit ($short_0)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking in Canada industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

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

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Standard packed goods, Dry bulk and Bulk liquids and gases. Standard packed goods is the largest segment of the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Wholesalers and manufacturers boost demand for packed goods distribution

  • Though the industry's central focus is distributing specialized goods, companies ship large quantities of standard-packed goods without using climate-control systems that can't fit into standardized trailers. Furniture, parts and accessories, home supplies and other products that sometimes can't be distributed using standard dry van trailers are distributed using flatbed trailers.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Tank and Refrigeration Trucking industry in Canada provides long-distance trucking services for atypical cargo requiring specialized transportation. Companies in this industry transport bulk liquids, frozen goods, dry bulk materials, forest products, automobiles and other specialized freight between metropolitan areas. However, this industry does not include the transport of used goods.

What's included in this industry?

Long-distance automobile carrier truckingLong-distance bulk liquid truckingLong-distance agricultural products trucking (including livestock)Long-distance hazardous material truckingLong-distance gravel hauling servicesLong-distance refrigerated products truckingLong-distance garbage haulingLong-distance tanker trucking

Companies

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

Related Terms

SHRINKAGEINTERMODALREEFERTRUCKLOAD (TL)LESS-THAN-TRUCKLOAD (LTL)

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 48423 - Long-Distance Specialized 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

Trucking companies are prioritizing driver safety by investing in technology-equipped fleets. Innovations like cargo sensors and digital dashboards have significantly reduced...

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

Climate-controlled packed goods distribution remains stable, supported by consistent consumer demand for perishable items. Companies in this sector use insulated and refriger...

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

Population sustains demand for trucking. Warehouses and distribution centers are more often located in dense metropolitan areas, so tank and refrigeration truckers commonly l...

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

Price is key to securing demand. Large companies can often leverage forward fuel purchasing contracts with wholesalers to offer lower prices than competing truckers that are ...

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

The industry doesn't have any major companies. Tank and refrigeration trucking companies can't leverage economies of scale to become dominant, making the industry mostly comp...

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

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

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

    Analyst insights

    Road safety regulations must be followed. Trucking companies have to keep their vehicles running smoothly and allow their drivers regular breaks to reduce the likelihood of c...

    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

    The relationship-driven nature of Canadian trucking, along with surcharges, cushions the impact of rising costs on profit. This approach helps maintain profitability by allow...

    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)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

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

    The market size of the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in Canada is $16.7bn in 2024.

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

    There are 11,672 businesses in the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

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

    The market size of the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

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

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

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

    Long-distance automobile carrier trucking and Long-distance bulk liquid trucking are part of the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry.

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

    The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Long-Distance Specialized Freight Trucking industry in Canada.

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    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.