By Gary S. Vasilash

In 2021 (OK, not the greatest of years to use for data about anything, but still available info for this point) trucks moved approximately 12 billion tons of freight in the U.S.

Although it might be thought that there is a whole lot of long-haul trucking going on, making the run across the I-80 or down I-75—it turns out that there is comparatively little of that.

Rather, shipments of below 100 miles handled 44% of the tonnage carried by trucks.

And 44% of the tonnage was on runs from 100 to 249 miles.

That from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics and Federal Highway Administration.

So with 87% of the tonnage being carried by trucks 249 miles or less, and much of that under 100 miles, perhaps electric trucks make more sense than some might think.

What’s more, even ranges that would be laughably low for passenger vehicles might make economic sense for the trucking industry.