Trucking Companies in Minnesota

Minnesota ranks among the largest trucking markets in the United States with 17,063 registered for-hire motor carriers, of which 17,063 (100.0%) hold active FMCSA operating authority as of May 2026. The state's average fleet size is 10.8 power units, with 40,364 single-truck owner-operators comprising 236.6% of the carrier population. Minneapolis leads with 4,570 carriers, followed by the state's other major freight corridors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, trucking and warehousing is among Minnesota's top employment sectors, reflecting the state's critical role in domestic freight movement.

The carrier fleet in Minnesota includes 238 operators running 101+ power units alongside 40,364 single-truck operations. The fleet spans general freight, specialized, and intermodal operations. New market entries remain steady: 1,620 carriers received initial operating authority in the past 6 months, each subject to FMCSA's 18-month New Entrant Safety Assurance monitoring period. Meanwhile, 28,745 carriers have maintained continuous authority for 20+ years, representing the state's most established freight operators.

Truck Graph identifies 34 active risk indicators across Minnesota carriers (0.20% of the registered population), detected through pattern analysis of authority cycling, insurance filing anomalies, and known chameleon carrier behaviors. The FMCSA defines chameleon carriers as entities that "successively obtain and relinquish operating authority to evade enforcement actions" — a practice that puts shippers at risk. Additionally, 34 Minnesota carriers have prior authority revocations on record. Shippers should verify carrier authority status, insurance coverage, and safety ratings before every load tender using the FMCSA SAFER System or Truck Graph's instant verification tools.

Sources: FMCSA.dot.gov, BLS Trucking Industry Data, FMCSA SAFER System. Data verified as of May 29, 2026 at 12:34 PM.