Logistics Statistics and Facts (2026)

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Trucks move more than 72% of the freight tonnage in the U.S., yet most people don’t think about logistics until a package runs late. If you need logistics statistics you can actually cite, this page has them. We pulled numbers on market size, costs, freight modes, jobs, and technology, and every figure links to its source. 

Key Logistics Statistics at a Glance

  • The 2026 State of Logistics Report puts U.S. business logistics costs at $2.4 trillion, or 7.8% of national GDP. (CSCMP and Kearney via TheTrucker.com, 2026)
  • The global logistics industry was worth over €9.4 trillion in 2023, equal to 10.6% of world GDP. (Statista, 2025)
  • Trucks delivered more than 72% of all domestic U.S. freight tonnage in 2024. (American Trucking Associations, 2025)
  • Logisticians earned a median of $82,320 a year in May 2025, and jobs are projected to grow 18% from 2025 to 2035. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026)
  • Global shipping moves over 80% of the world’s merchandise trade. (UNCTAD via UN Geneva Newsroom, 2025)
  • E-commerce accounted for 17.1% of total U.S. retail sales in the second quarter of 2026. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2026)
  • In 2025, cargo theft losses in the U.S. and Canada reached nearly $725 million, up 60% from the previous year. (Verisk CargoNet, 2026)

Logistics Statistics: Global Market Size and Growth

Estimates of the world logistics market vary by publisher, so each figure below names the source.

  • The global logistics industry totaled more than €9.4 trillion in 2023, equal to 10.6% of world GDP. (Statista, 2025)
  • Statista projects the global logistics industry will exceed €14 trillion by 2028. (Statista, 2025)
  • IMARC valued the global logistics market at $5.88 trillion in 2025 and expects it to reach $8.23 trillion by 2034, a 3.71% CAGR. (IMARC Group, 2026) Why it matters: totals differ widely between firms because each defines “logistics” differently, so name the publisher whenever you cite a market size.
  • Asia Pacific held 48.7% of global logistics revenue in 2025, ahead of North America at 20.5% and Europe at 17.6%, per IMARC. (IMARC Group, 2026)
  • Research and Markets expects the Asia-Pacific logistics market to grow from nearly $4.56 trillion in 2024 to about $8.28 trillion by 2034, a 6.1% CAGR. (Research and Markets via GlobeNewswire, 2025)

Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Statistics

Outsourced logistics is among the fastest-growing segments of the industry, though forecasts differ by firm.

  • IMARC estimates the global 3PL market at $1,290.0 billion in 2025, growing to $2,367.6 billion by 2034 at a 6.73% CAGR. (IMARC Group, 2026)
  • Mordor Intelligence expects the global 3PL market to reach $1.22 trillion in 2026 and $1.57 trillion by 2031, a 5.27% CAGR. (Mordor Intelligence, 2026)
  • Fortune Business Insights sized the combined 3PL and 4PL services market at $1,403.72 billion in 2025, growing at a 9.25% CAGR to $3,112.24 billion by 2034. (Fortune Business Insights, 2026) Why it matters: this figure covers 3PL and 4PL together, so it is not directly comparable with 3PL-only estimates.
  • Asia Pacific accounts for 42.4% of the global 3PL market, according to IMARC. (IMARC Group, 2026)

Logistics Statistics: U.S. Logistics Costs

The annual State of Logistics Report from CSCMP and Kearney is the standard reference for U.S. logistics costs.

  • CSCMP and Kearney’s 2026 State of Logistics Report puts U.S. business logistics costs at 7.8% of national GDP, or $2.4 trillion. (CSCMP and Kearney via TheTrucker.com, 2026)
  • U.S. business logistics costs were $2.58 trillion in 2024, equal to 8.8% of GDP, according to the 2025 State of Logistics Report. (CSCMP and Kearney via PR Newswire, 2025) Why it matters: the 2025 and 2026 editions report different totals, so always name the edition you are citing.
  • Transportation made up 64.4% of U.S. logistics spending in 2024, up from 64.1% in 2023. (Supply Chain Digest, 2025)
  • Inventory carrying costs were 28.4% of total U.S. business logistics costs in 2024, down from 28.6% in 2023. (Supply Chain Digest, 2025)
  • Parcel shipping cost $229.7 billion in the U.S. in 2024, up from $224.9 billion in 2023. (Supply Chain Digest, 2025)
  • U.S. water freight spending jumped 93.1% in 2024, driven by rate increases on Asia-to-U.S. routes. (DC Velocity, 2025)
  • Warehouse vacancy rates rose to about 6.7% in 2024 as construction slowed after years of rapid expansion. (DC Velocity, 2025)

Trucking Statistics: Tonnage, Revenue, and Carriers

Trucking is the backbone of U.S. freight, and the industry is still working through a long freight downturn.

  • U.S. trucks moved 11.27 billion tons of freight in 2024, down from 11.41 billion tons in 2023. (American Trucking Associations, 2025)
  • In 2024, trucks delivered over 72% of all domestic U.S. freight tonnage. (American Trucking Associations, 2025)
  • Trucking industry revenue fell to $906 billion in 2024, down from $1.004 trillion in 2023. (American Trucking Associations, 2025)
  • In 2024, 91.5% of U.S. carriers operated 10 or fewer trucks, and 99.3% operated fewer than 100 power units. (American Trucking Associations, 2025)
  • The FMCSA counted more than 2,122,441 active registered U.S. motor carriers in its August 2026 data snapshot. (FMCSA, U.S. DOT, 2026)
  • ATA forecasts U.S. truck tonnage will grow from 11.27 billion tons in 2024 to nearly 13.99 billion tons in 2035. (American Trucking Associations, 2025)
  • The Cass Freight Index shipments reading turned positive in August 2026, ending a 42-month downturn that was the longest on record. (Cass Information Systems, 2026)

Freight Rail Statistics

Rail carries less freight by weight than trucks but dominates long-distance hauling.

Ocean Shipping and Air Cargo Statistics

Ships carry most of the world’s goods by volume, while air cargo handles high-value, time-sensitive freight.

  • According to UNCTAD, global shipping moves over 80% of the world’s merchandise trade. (UNCTAD via UN Geneva Newsroom, 2025)
  • Seaborne trade grew 2.2% in 2024, while rerouting pushed ton-miles up by about 6%, UNCTAD reported. (UNCTAD via UN Geneva Newsroom, 2025)
  • The Panama Canal moved 489.1 million CP/SUAB tons in fiscal year 2025, up 15.6% from fiscal 2024. (Panama Canal Authority, 2025)
  • The WTO expects world merchandise trade volume growth to slow to 1.9% in 2026 after rising 4.6% in 2025. (World Trade Organization, 2026)
  • Global air cargo demand grew 3.4% in full-year 2025, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers. (IATA, 2026)
  • Global air cargo demand rose 4.4% in August 2026 compared with August 2025, with North America leading regional growth at 6.6%. (IATA, 2026)

Logistics Jobs Statistics: Workforce, Pay, and Safety

Logistics employs millions of Americans, and the work carries more injury risk than most industries.

E-Commerce and Returns Logistics Statistics

Online shopping continues to reshape parcel volumes, last-mile delivery, and reverse logistics.

Logistics Technology Statistics: AI and Automation

Technology adoption is growing quickly, but proving the payoff is harder than deploying the tools.

  • 41% of supply chain professionals surveyed by MHI and Deloitte said their company currently uses AI, up from 30% a year earlier. (MHI and Deloitte, via The Supply Chain Xchange, 2026)
  • In the same MHI and Deloitte survey, 56% of supply chain leaders are increasing technology and automation investment, and 17% plan to spend over $10 million. (MHI and Deloitte, via DC Velocity, 2026)
  • Only 13% of logistics providers and shippers surveyed by BCG and Alpega report measurable value from AI, though about 40% have deployed it beyond pilots. (Boston Consulting Group, 2026) Why it matters: the survey base is 180+ experts across regions, so treat it as directional rather than a market-wide measure.
  • The global operational stock of industrial robots rose 9% in 2025 to a record 5 million units. (International Federation of Robotics, 2026)

Cargo Theft and Transportation Emissions Statistics

Theft and emissions are two growing costs that logistics operators can’t ignore.

  • Cargo theft losses in the U.S. and Canada were up 60% from 2024, reaching nearly $725 million in 2025. (Verisk CargoNet, 2026)
  • Estimated cargo theft losses more than doubled to $304.6 million in the second quarter of 2026, even though incidents fell 26% year over year to 677. (Verisk CargoNet, 2026)
  • Transportation accounted for the largest share, 28%, of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2022. (U.S. EPA, 2024)
  • Medium- and heavy-duty trucks were responsible for 23% of U.S. transportation sector emissions in 2022. (U.S. EPA, 2024)
  • U.S. transportation emissions from fossil fuel combustion rose 19% between 1990 and 2022. (U.S. EPA, 2024)
  • EPA says SmartWay freight partners have saved $55.4 billion in fuel costs over 20 years of collaboration. (U.S. EPA, 2024)

Methodology and Sources

Statistics were selected from primary sources wherever possible (government agencies first, then industry associations and research firms), and each figure was checked against the original page before inclusion. Where a trade outlet reports a primary study, the outlet is named. Where research firms disagree, each figure is labeled with the firm behind it.

  1. CSCMP and Kearney via TheTrucker.com. “2026 State of Logistics Report: Volatility is the new normal.” 2026. https://www.thetrucker.com/trucking-news/business/2026-state-of-logistics-report-volatility-is-the-new-normal
  2. CSCMP and Kearney via PR Newswire. “New State of Logistics Report Highlights Navigating the Fog of Global Commerce.” 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-state-of-logistics-report-highlights-navigating-the-fog-of-global-commerce-302471337.html
  3. Supply Chain Digest. “State of the Logistics Union 2025.” 2025. https://www.scdigest.com/firstthoughts/25-06-13_State_of_Logistics_2025.php?cid=22831
  4. DC Velocity. “Navigating through the fog: State of Logistics Report 2025.” 2025. https://www.dcvelocity.com/logistics/state-of-logistics-report-2025
  5. Statista. “Logistics industry worldwide – statistics & facts.” 2025. https://www.statista.com/topics/5691/logistics-industry-worldwide/
  6. IMARC Group. “Logistics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis 2034.” 2026. https://www.imarcgroup.com/logistics-market
  7. IMARC Group. “Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Market Size & Forecast 2034.” 2026. https://www.imarcgroup.com/third-party-logistics-market
  8. Mordor Intelligence. “Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Market Size, Share & 2031 Growth Trends Report.” 2026. https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/global-3pl-market
  9. Fortune Business Insights. “Logistics Services [3PL & 4PL] Market Size & Growth, 2034.” 2026. https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/logistic-services-market-103763
  10. Research and Markets via GlobeNewswire. “Asia-Pacific Logistics Market Report 2025.” 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/03/26/3049402/0/en/Asia-Pacific-Logistics-Market-Report-2025-Revenues-to-Grow-from-US-4-56-Trillion-in-2024-to-a-Projected-US-8-28-Trillion-by-2034.html
  11. American Trucking Associations. “ATA American Trucking Trends 2025.” 2025. https://www.trucking.org/news-insights/ata-american-trucking-trends-2025
  12. American Trucking Associations. “ATA Releases Latest Edition of American Trucking Trends.” 2025. https://www.trucking.org/news-insights/ata-releases-latest-edition-american-trucking-trends-0
  13. American Trucking Associations. “ATA U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast to 2035.” 2025. https://www.trucking.org/news-insights/ata-us-freight-transportation-forecast-2035
  14. FMCSA, U.S. DOT. “A&I Online: Registration Statistics.” 2026. https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/RegistrationStatistics/
  15. Cass Information Systems. “Cass Transportation Index Report, August 2026.” 2026. https://www.cassinfo.com/freight-audit-payment/cass-transportation-indexes/august-2026
  16. Association of American Railroads. “Freight Rail Facts & Statistics.” 2026. https://www.aar.org/freight-rail-facts-figures/
  17. Association of American Railroads. “AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending September 19, 2026.” 2026. https://www.aar.org/news/aar-reports-weekly-rail-traffic-for-the-week-ending-september-19-2026/
  18. UNCTAD via UN Geneva Newsroom. “UNCTAD Press conference: Review of Maritime Transport, 24 September 2025.” 2025. https://www.unognewsroom.org/story/en/2840/unctad-press-conference-review-of-maritime-transport-24-september-2025/8514
  19. Panama Canal Authority. “Panama Canal Maintains Operational and Financial Strength.” 2025. https://pancanal.com/en/panama-canal-maintains-operational-and-financial-strength/
  20. World Trade Organization. “Middle East conflict weighs further on slowing trade outlook.” 2026. https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news26_e/stat_19mar26_329_e.htm
  21. IATA. “Global Air Cargo Demand Achieved Record Volume in 2025.” 2026. https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2026-releases/2026-01-29-01/
  22. IATA. “Air Cargo Demand Grows 4.4% in August.” 2026. https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2026-releases/09-29-air-cargo-demand-grows-august/
  23. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Logisticians: Occupational Outlook Handbook.” 2026. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/logisticians.htm
  24. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers: Occupational Outlook Handbook.” 2026. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm
  25. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Transportation and Warehousing: NAICS 48-49.” 2026. https://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag48-49.htm
  26. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Table 1. Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry and case types, 2024” and “Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, 2023-2024.” 2024. https://www.bls.gov/web/osh/table-1-industry-rates-national.htm and https://www.bls.gov/news.release/osh.nr0.htm
  27. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Employed people by detailed occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity (CPS table 11).” 2025. https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm
  28. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2024.” 2024. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.nr0.htm
  29. U.S. Census Bureau. “Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, 2nd Quarter 2026.” 2026. https://www.census.gov/retail/ecommerce.html
  30. National Retail Federation. “Consumers Expected to Return Nearly $850 Billion in Merchandise in 2025.” 2025. https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025
  31. National Retail Federation and Happy Returns. “2025 Retail Returns Landscape.” 2025. https://nrf.com/research/2025-retail-returns-landscape
  32. MHI and Deloitte, via The Supply Chain Xchange. “AI continues to drive major disruptions in supply chain field, according to MHI’s Annual Industry Report.” 2026. https://www.thescxchange.com/tech-infrastructure/technology/ai-continues-to-drive-major-disruptions-in-supply-chain-field-according-to-mhis-annual-industry-report
  33. MHI and Deloitte, via DC Velocity. Same title. 2026. https://www.dcvelocity.com/technology/ai-continues-to-drive-major-disruptions-in-supply-chain-field-according-to-mhis-annual-industry-report
  34. Boston Consulting Group. “AI Is Already Moving the Logistics Industry Forward.” 2026. https://www.bcg.com/publications/2026/ai-is-already-moving-the-logistics-industry-forward
  35. International Federation of Robotics. “Five Million Robots Now Operate in Factories Globally.” 2026. https://ifr.org/ifr-press-releases/news/five-million-robots-now-operate-in-factories-globally
  36. Verisk CargoNet. “Cargo Theft Losses Surge to Estimated $725 Million in 2025.” 2026. https://www.cargonet.com/news-and-events/cargonet-in-the-media/2025-theft-trends/
  37. Verisk CargoNet. “Cargo Theft Losses More Than Double to $304 Million in Q2.” 2026. https://www.cargonet.com/news-and-events/cargonet-in-the-media/2026-q2-theft-trends/
  38. U.S. EPA. “Fast Facts on Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” 2024. https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/fast-facts-transportation-greenhouse-gas-emissions
  39. U.S. EPA. “Transportation Sector Emissions.” 2024. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/transportation-sector-emissions
  40. U.S. EPA. “SmartWay.” 2024. https://www.epa.gov/smartway

Logistics Statistics FAQs

What is the biggest problem in logistics?

There’s no single answer, but the data points to cost pressure, cargo security, and shaky trade volumes. The 2026 State of Logistics Report from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and Kearney puts U.S. logistics costs at $2.4 trillion, or 7.8% of GDP (CSCMP and Kearney via TheTrucker.com, 2026). Cargo theft losses hit nearly $725 million in 2025 (Verisk CargoNet, 2026), and the World Trade Organization expects merchandise trade volume growth to slow to 1.9% in 2026 (World Trade Organization, 2026).

Will logistics be replaced by AI?

Not based on current data. In a survey by MHI, the material handling and supply chain trade association, and Deloitte, 41% of supply chain professionals say their company uses AI (MHI and Deloitte, via The Supply Chain Xchange, 2026), yet only 13% of logistics firms in a Boston Consulting Group survey report measurable value from it (Boston Consulting Group, 2026). The Bureau of Labor Statistics still projects logistician employment to grow 18% from 2025 to 2035 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026).

What are 1PL, 2PL, 3PL, 4PL, and 5PL logistics?

These labels describe how much of the logistics function a company outsources, from doing it all in-house (1PL) to having a provider coordinate entire networks (4PL and 5PL). The 3PL tier is the biggest business: market research firm IMARC Group estimates the global 3PL market at $1,290.0 billion in 2025 (IMARC Group, 2026). Fortune Business Insights sizes the combined 3PL and 4PL market at $1,403.72 billion in 2025 (Fortune Business Insights, 2026).

What are the key performance indicators in logistics?

Cost, speed, and reliability are the usual categories, and cost is the easiest to benchmark. U.S. logistics costs equal 7.8% of GDP in the 2026 State of Logistics Report (CSCMP and Kearney via TheTrucker.com, 2026). Transportation accounted for 64.4% of 2024 spending, and inventory carrying costs accounted for 28.4% (Supply Chain Digest, 2025).

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