page_title: History of the trucking industry in the United States
section_title: 21st century
hierarchical_section_title: History of the trucking industry in the United States / 21st century
caption_attribution_description: English: Interior of an Navistar International 9400i truck. The small blue illuminated square near the center of the photo is the Cummins Icon Idle system which allows the engine and the climate control to turn on only when it is needed as determined by a thermostat inside the truck. Switches on the dashboard (starting with the top left) include marker lamps, headlights, panel dimmer, windshield wipers, and fridge on/off; cruise set, cruise on/off, and powered mirror (passenger side only); engine brake power select (1, 2, or 3), engine brake on/off, diagnostics, and mirror heat. The large red octagonal knob is for the trailer brakes, and the yellow square one is for the tractor. Below the two knobs is the power divider switch, which engages both drive axles on the tractor (similar to a 4-wheel drive switch, although it is not recommended to operate interaxle differential switch at speeds over 35mph). At the bottom of the windshield, the large blue box which reads "E-ZPass" is an electronic toll collection transponder, for use on many of the toll roads on the East Coast of the United States. Other options (added by the driver) include, digital time, date, and exterior temperature. The paper taped to the dashboard is a list of the driver's favorite terrestrial radio stations from major cities across the continent.
context_page_description: The trucking industry in the United States 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.
  During World War I, the military was the first to use trucks extensively. With the increased construction of paved roads, trucking began to achieve significant foothold in the 1930s, and soon became subject to various government regulations. During the late 1950s and 1960s, trucking was accelerated by the construction of the Interstate Highway System, an extensive network of freeways linking major cities across the continent.
  Trucking achieved national attention during the 1960s 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, and the industry was drastically deregulated by the Motor Carrier Act of 1980. Trucking has come to dominate the freight industry in the latter portion of the 20th Century, along with what are termed "big-box stores" such as Wal-Mart and Target.
context_section_description: By 2006 there were over 26 million trucks on America's roads, hauling over 10 billion short tons (9.1 billion long tons) of freight, and representing nearly 70% of the total volume of freight. Many automobile drivers are largely unfamiliar with large trucks and many accidents are the result of these drivers being unaware of an 18-wheeler's numerous and large blind spots. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has determined that 70% of fatal automobile/tractor-trailer accidents were the result of "unsafe actions of automobile drivers".
  In 2007, the Women In Trucking Association, Inc was founded by trucker Ellen Voie. Its remit is to provide technical and logistical support to women who are already a part of the industry or have an interest in it.
  In the 2009 book, Trucking country: The road to America's Walmart economy, author Shane Hamilton explores the history of trucking and how developments in the trucking industry helped the so-called big-box stores (such as Walmart or Target) dominate the retail sector of the U.S. economy.
caption: Interior of a modern truck cab.
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