Alabama Trucking

Alabama is a southeastern U.S. state known for its iron, steel, and natural resources.3 The state’s major industries include automotive, chemicals, information technology, forestry, and aerospace.3 The trucking industry in the state moves about 75% of all the transported freight. Alabama truck drivers also haul exports to and from the Port of Mobile.

Advocacy

The Alabama Trucking Association represents state trucking operations and lobbies on behalf of the industry. The association offers various benefits to its partners and members and works with local and state officials from various enforcement and regulatory agencies to aid the industry.

Freight Economy

Trucking is the dominant transportation source in Alabama because many Alabamans rely on trucking to deliver products to rural communities.

Truckers in the state primarily transport:

  • Automobiles
  • Aircraft including engines, parts
  • Coal
  • Large spark-ignition engines
  • Chemical wood pulp
  • Polycarbonates
  • Miscellaneous petroleum oils

Access

Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee border Alabama.10 The state’s deep-water port, Port of Mobile, is also an access point.

Alabama’s interstate system primarily consists of the following highways:

  • I-10
  • I-20
  • I-22
  • I-59
  • I-65
  • I-85

Work and Wages

Alabama’s location along the Gulf of Mexico makes it an attractive base for carriers and, in turn, truck drivers and truck driving jobs.

Today the average annual salary of truck drivers in Alabama is about $50,364, and there are roughly 4,864 local truck driver jobs.7 In May 2020, the BLS reported a median yearly salary of $47,130 for Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers.