Trucking Companies in Houston, TX

Houston, TX is home to 6,431 registered for-hire motor carriers, of which 6,431 (100.0%) hold active operating authority as of May 2026. According to FMCSA records, the average fleet size among Houston carriers is 9.1 power units, reflecting a market dominated by owner-operators and small fleets. The Houston carrier population contributes to Texas's broader freight economy, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks among the nation's largest by trucking employment.

The fleet composition in Houston shows 13,756 single-truck operators (213.9% of all carriers) alongside 113 carriers operating fleets of 101+ power units. Other operations represent the largest segment with 19,046 carriers. A total of 1 carriers hold hazmat endorsements, subject to additional FMCSA safety protocols under 49 CFR Part 397. This distribution is consistent with FMCSA's national pattern where approximately 91% of registered carriers operate fewer than 6 power units (FMCSA Industry Snapshot, 2024).

Authority tenure data reveals 923 carriers received new operating authority in the past 6 months, while 858 carriers have maintained continuous authority for 20+ years. New entrants face elevated scrutiny under FMCSA's New Entrant Safety Assurance Program, which mandates an 18-month monitoring period including at least one safety audit. The presence of 28 carriers with prior revocations on record underscores the importance of verifying authority status before tendering freight — a carrier's historical compliance record is publicly available through the FMCSA SAFER System.

Truck Graph identifies 28 active risk indicators among Houston carriers (0.44% of the population), flagged through cross-referencing authority history, insurance filing patterns, and known chameleon carrier behaviors. The FMCSA defines chameleon carriers as entities that "successively obtain and relinquish operating authority to evade enforcement actions." Shippers and brokers should verify carrier authority, insurance coverage, and safety ratings before every load tender — Truck Graph's Risk Check tool provides instant verification against all available compliance data.

Sources: FMCSA.dot.gov, BLS Trucking Industry Data, FMCSA SAFER System. Data verified as of May 29, 2026 at 4:57 PM.

Authority age distribution

Years since initial FMCSA authority grant date. View methodology

How many trucking companies are in Houston, Texas?

Houston, TX has 6,431 registered for-hire motor carriers as of May 2026. Of these, 6,431 hold active operating authority from the FMCSA.

What is the average fleet size in Houston?

The average fleet size among Houston carriers is 9.1 power units. Approximately 13756 carriers operate a single truck, while 113 operate fleets of 101+ units.

How many Houston carriers have risk indicators?

Truck Graph identifies 28 active risk indicators among Houston-based carriers. These indicators are derived from authority history patterns, insurance filing anomalies, and known chameleon carrier behaviors.

How do I verify a Houston trucking company?

Use Truck Graph's DOT Lookup tool to instantly verify any carrier's authority status, insurance coverage, and safety record. You can also check the FMCSA SAFER System directly at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.

What types of trucking companies operate in Houston?

Houston's carrier population includes other, dry van / mixed, hazmat operations. Hazmat-endorsed carriers are also present, operating under additional 49 CFR Part 397 requirements.

Is Truck Graph data reliable?

Truck Graph compiles data from FMCSA authority records, insurance filings, inspection histories, and crash reports. Data refreshes continuously from verified federal sources. All 6,431 Houston carriers are cross-referenced against multiple compliance databases.