Trucking Companies in Tennessee

Tennessee ranks among the largest trucking markets in the United States with 12,925 registered for-hire motor carriers, of which 12,925 (100.0%) hold active FMCSA operating authority as of May 2026. The state's average fleet size is 21.5 power units, with 11,958 single-truck owner-operators comprising 92.5% of the carrier population. Memphis leads with 2,243 carriers, followed by the state's other major freight corridors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, trucking and warehousing is among Tennessee's top employment sectors, reflecting the state's critical role in domestic freight movement.

The carrier fleet in Tennessee includes 172 operators running 101+ power units alongside 11,958 single-truck operations. The fleet spans general freight, specialized, and intermodal operations. New market entries remain steady: 1,094 carriers received initial operating authority in the past 6 months, each subject to FMCSA's 18-month New Entrant Safety Assurance monitoring period. Meanwhile, 4,902 carriers have maintained continuous authority for 20+ years, representing the state's most established freight operators.

Truck Graph identifies 30 active risk indicators across Tennessee carriers (0.23% 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, 30 Tennessee 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.