Issue link: https://jocdigital.uberflip.com/i/962145
48 The Journal of Commerce | April 16 2018 www.joc.com Top 50 Trucking Companies Special Report Back in growth mode Higher demand, pricing put Top 50 trucking operators in fast lane, with more growth ahead By William B. Cassidy A SECOND-HALF SURGE in freight de- mand and economic activity last year fueled the most rapid acceleration in three years at the largest US trucking companies, with 90 percent of The Journal of Commerce's Top 50 US Trucking Companies expanding their revenue year over year. As long as freight demand remains steady, there seems to be little that could slow the Top 50 down. If the economy keeps up its pace, the truckload, less-than-truckload, parcel, intermodal, and other carriers in the Top 50 rankings could see double-digit revenue growth in 2018. That revenue growth will come at the expense of higher transporta- tion costs and pricing for shippers. But that revenue also will fuel the profitability trucking operators say they need to reinvest in equipment and drivers, improve service, and offer sustainable capacity. In 2016, only 50 percent of the trucking companies in the Top 50 rankings, prepared for The Journal of Commerce by SJ Consulting Group, increased revenue, and that at a much slower pace, as the US economy trudged through the second "soft patch" in the recovery by the 2008-2009 recession. In 2017, 16 of the Top 50 truck- ing companies expanded their top lines by double digits, with 11 carri- ers growing by 10 to 15 percent, two by 15 to 20 percent, and three more 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 $10 billion plus $1 billion to $9.9 billion $800 million to $999 million $600 million to $799 million $400 million to $599 million Big US trucking companies get bigger Source: SJ Consulting Group data, JOC © 2018 IHS Markit Number of companies by revenue class