University of California Transportation Center

Freight transportation plays a vital role in the economy of the nation and the state of California in particular. The value of total freight shipments originating in California in 1997 is estimated $638.5 billion, 10.6 percent of all US shipments by value. This represents 706.5 million tons of fright an amount equal to 7.2 percent of the freight move nationally, measured by weight. Measured by value and weight, respectively, 67.4 and 73.7 percent of this fright moved by tuck. An additional 15.4 and 2.4 percent (by value and weight) of the freight originating in California moved over more than one mode, most likely spending part of its journey over the road. The California Trucking Association estimates that trucking employs one out of twelve workers in California.