What are the Largest Trucking Companies?

December 7, 2021 / Trucking Companies

The Largest Trucking Companies Have Tremendous Power

Trucking companies play a major role in our economy, since the majority of essential goods in the U.S. are transported via trucks. This includes food, medicine, household goods, and equipment, so we rely and depend on these companies to get us what we need in a timely manner. Unfortunately, with the increase in truck traffic, there’s a higher risk of incidents on the road, making the services of an Indiana delivery truck accident lawyer more relevant than ever. In 2021, there have been many problems in the trucking industry, due to the shortage of drivers and the problems caused by the backup of containers in ports and on ships. Still, demand for delivery of goods keeps growing. The biggest trucking companies and private enterprises in the United States have huge numbers of vehicles and employees, and their tractor-trailers carry billions of dollars’ worth of goods across the country every day.

Considering the huge numbers of trucks on the road and the difficulty of maneuvering and stopping a large, heavily loaded vehicle, it is not surprising that trucks are often involved in crashes, and often with devastating results. In a trucking accident, smaller vehicles such as passenger cars are no match for a big truck. Large trucks are difficult to maneuver; and, when loaded with freight, they may take 20 to 40 percent longer to stop than a car. As a result, an accident involving these vehicles may result in catastrophic injuries such as head, back, neck, brain and spinal cord injuries; paralysis; amputations; broken bones; and even death. Survivors of accidents with large trucks face mounting medical bills and expenses at a time they are suffering and may be unable to work, and their lives and those of their families may never be the same.

Victims of truck accidents that are caused by a driver or other party’s negligence or fault should be entitled to compensation for their losses. The trucking industry is governed by state and federal safety regulations, and failure to meet them creates liability. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (Title 49, Parts 350-399) govern all vehicles engaged in interstate traffic, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has rules for driver’s license standards, safety and fitness procedures, financial responsibility for motor carriers, maximum hours truckers can drive, and what inspection, repair and maintenance of vehicles is required. When these regulations are not adhered to, the responsible parties can be found negligent and liable for damages.

However, it can often be difficult getting compensation from large trucking companies. The largest trucking companies carry lots of insurance, but both the truck companies and their insurers have high-powered lawyers on their side, using tactics and skills to deny claims and get victims to settle for the lowest amount possible. Going up against them is not something you should attempt on your own. Fortunately, there is help available from an experienced truck accident lawyer who knows the laws and the system, how to investigate your case, how to negotiate with insurers for a fair settlement, and how to take your case to trial and argue in front of a judge and jury if necessary.

To give you an idea of what you may be facing, the Indiana truck accident lawyers at Stephenson Rife provide a list of the largest U.S. trucking companies.

The Largest Trucking Companies in the U.S.

Truck Statistics from 2020 and 2021

Large trucking enterprises need a huge fleet of vehicles to serve their customers, meet demand, and increase revenue. As needs change and companies grow, their fleets typically grow with them and, as a result, the list of the top 20 largest trucking companies in the U.S. will change over time.

According to Transport Topics, a publication for the trucking and logistics industry, the following are the largest trucking companies in the U.S., as they ranked in 2020 and 2021:

What Trucking Company Owns the Most Trucks?

According to Transport Topics, Fed Ex, the package delivery company that is known for their easily identifiable brown trucks, is the company that owns the most trucks and trailers in the U.S. Their fleet includes:

• 36,598 company-owned tractors
• 132,540 trailers
• 108,232 straight trucks
• 680 aircraft.

FedEx operates more than 100,000 vehicles in its express division, according to the company’s website. In the rare event of a mishap involving these vehicles, consulting a specialized FedEx truck accident lawyer can be crucial for legal advice and representation.

Ryder Supply Chain Solutions, an American transportation and logistics company known for its fleet of commercial rental trucks, is another company with an enormous number of vehicles, although many of them are leased. Ryder specializes in fleet management, supply chain management, and dedicated transportation management. It also offers full-service leasing, rental and maintenance, used vehicle sales, transportation management, professional drivers, e-commerce fulfillment, and last-mile delivery services. By the end of 2019, the company owned or leased 213,800 vehicles.

Call Our Truck Accident Attorneys in Indianapolis for Help

The Larger the Company, the Tougher to Fight Them, but Our Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates interstate commercial trucking companies and commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders. In addition, trucking companies must meet state regulations governing commercial motor vehicles, such as routine vehicle inspections and time limits on how long drivers may drive in a day. These laws will all come into play when an accident with a truck occurs.

If you or a loved one was injured or someone has died in an accident involving a truck, you may be entitled to compensation for your financial losses and pain and suffering through insurance or a lawsuit. Always keep in mind that large trucking companies and their insurers will do everything possible to avoid paying, so it makes sense to fight back with an attorney familiar with the laws and complications that a big company truck lawsuit involves.

Our Stephenson Rife Indiana commercial vehicle truck accident attorneys are fully prepared to deal with large truck companies, their insurers and their lawyers. When you have our legal team on your side, we will fight for compensatory damages to cover losses and costs for both your economic damages for specific monetary losses and your non-economic damages for losses that may not have a specific dollar value but negatively impact your life. These may include:

• Medical and rehabilitative and equipment costs
• Lost wages and future earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish and emotional distress
• Permanent disability

• Disfigurement and permanent scarring
• Loss of enjoyment of life.

Our truck accident lawyers will work with investigators and experts in accident reconstruction to determine how your trucking accident occurred and who may have been at fault. We know the courts, the system, and how insurers operate and are fully prepared to find all potentially liable parties and hold them responsible for the optimum settlement you deserve. We will gather evidence, interview witnesses, and get testimony as to the costs you have incurred and how your injuries negatively impact your life. We will aggressively negotiate with insurers for fair compensation, and build your case and take it to trial if necessary.

Be aware that there is a statute of limitation, a time limit for filing. According to Indiana law (Indiana Code (IC) 34-11-2-4(3))  you must file a claim for personal injury or wrongful death within two years or the courts will not hear your case.

At Stephenson Rife, we have the experience to pursue positive results, no matter how large the trucking company or the legal challenges your case involves. We provide caring, confident and cost-effective service you can count on, which is why we are the law firm that other law firms consult.

We work on a contingency basis, so there are no fees to you unless and until we win your case. Find out what we can do for you by calling us today at (317) 680-2350 for your free consultation.

Attorney Brady Rife

Attorney Brady Rife has developed a diverse civil litigation practice for plaintiffs throughout Indiana. Brady is heavily involved in serious personal injury matters, complex business and commercial disputes, and insurance litigation in state and federal courts. Some of the firm’s most successful cases include winning a $48 million settlement against a large corporation in a fatal vehicle crash in New Mexico and a $14 million dollar settlement against a national trucking company in Illinois. The firm handles cases across the United States. [ Attorney Bio ]