ARLINGTON, Va. — The US trucking industry set a new record in 2006, hauling 10.7 billion tonnes of freight, 69% of all goods transported.

That’s the most goods ever hauled by truck in a single year, according to the American Trucking Associations (ATA), which tracks truck tonnage south of the border. The association has published its American Trucking Trends 2007-2008 report, which includes the latest data on truck tonnage.

The record tonnage generated about US$645.6 billion in revenue, accounting for 83.8% of the nation’s freight bill.

“Americans should understand that their national economy is directly linked to freight transportation,” said ATA president and CEO Bill Graves. “Trucking is the driving force behind our great economy. Safe, reliable and efficient motor carriers enable businesses throughout the entire supply chain to keep inventories lean, thereby saving the economy billions of dollars each year.”

More than 26 million trucks contributed to the new record, 2.9 million of which were Class 8 vehicles. More than 750,000 interstate carriers were involved.

Class 8 trucks drove 130.5 billion miles in 2005, according to the report, and the nation’s truck fleet consumed 52.8 billion gallons of fuel. The US trucking industry also shelled out $111 billion for that fuel and spent $35.2 billion in highway-user taxes in 2005.

Meanwhile, trucks moved 64.4% of goods by value shipped between Canada and the US. The ATA’s full report can be purchased online by visiting www.truckline.com/store.