Trucking Industry in The United States - History

History

The trucking industry has affected the political and economic history of the United States in the 20th century. Before the invention of automobiles, most freight was moved by train or horse-drawn vehicle.

Trucks were first used extensively by the military during World War I. With the increase in construction of paved roads, trucking began to achieve significant foothold in the 1930s. Public safety concerns made it necessary to implement various government regulations (such as the 1965, hours of service) rule (recently revised with a final rule compliance date of July 1, 3012) of how long drivers were allowed to work and drive each day/week. In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the Interstate Highway System, an extensive network of highways and freeways that linked major cities across the continent to increase national security. The addition of Interstate Highway System also made it possible for the trucking industry to grow substantially in the late '50's and early '60's and trucking has come to dominate the freight industry in the latter portion of the 20th Century.

Trucking achieved national attention during the 60s and 70s, when songs and movies about truck driving were major hits. Truck drivers participated in widespread strikes against the rising cost of fuel, during the energy crises of 1973 and 1979. President Jimmy Carter drastically deregulated the trucking industry with the passage of The Motor Carrier Act of 1980.