Trucking Companies in Texas

Texas ranks among the largest trucking markets in the United States with 55,376 registered for-hire motor carriers, of which 55,376 (100.0%) hold active FMCSA operating authority as of May 2026. The state's average fleet size is 13.9 power units, with 108,711 single-truck owner-operators comprising 196.3% of the carrier population. Houston leads with 20,009 carriers, followed by the state's other major freight corridors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, trucking and warehousing is among Texas's top employment sectors, reflecting the state's critical role in domestic freight movement.

The carrier fleet in Texas includes 672 operators running 101+ power units alongside 108,711 single-truck operations. A total of 2 carriers hold hazmat endorsements, operating under the heightened safety protocols of 49 CFR Part 397. New market entries remain steady: 7,904 carriers received initial operating authority in the past 6 months, each subject to FMCSA's 18-month New Entrant Safety Assurance monitoring period. Meanwhile, 9,215 carriers have maintained continuous authority for 20+ years, representing the state's most established freight operators.

Truck Graph identifies 214 active risk indicators across Texas carriers (0.39% 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, 214 Texas 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.