OTTAWA, Ont. — Statistics Canada reports that in 1998 there were an estimated 8,156 Canada-based owner/operators, with annual revenues between $30,000 and $1 million.

Operating revenues totaled $3.02 billion, exceeding the $2.59 billion in expenses incurred in small for-hire trucking operations during 1998.

On a per-carrier basis, total estimated revenues were $370,000, say the number crunchers.

Although these carriers represent almost 80 per cent of the total number of Canada-based for-hire carriers, their revenues account for only about 17 per cent of the total operating revenues of the entire for-hire trucking industry, which were estimated at $17.9 billion in 1998.

These survey results also encompass 41,000 owner-operators working for for-hire and private carriers. Operating revenues generated by owner-operators increased 4.1 per cent over 1997 levels to $6.1 billion, and operating expenses totaled $5.1 billion, according to Statistics Canada.