A Look at Logistics

06/18/2013 — Leah Palnik

Before your favorite products end up on store shelves, they have to be transported from where they are manufactured to their final destination. Many people may not think about what goes into the transportation of goods, but logistics is a large part of the world we live in. Here are some fun facts* to put into perspective just how important logistics is:

Logistics by the numbers

• 3.5 Million The approximate number of truck drivers moving freight in the U.S.
• 1.2 Million The number of trucking companies operating in the U.S.
• 149 The number of ports located in the U.S.  
• 1.28 Trillion The total U.S. logistics spend in 2011 
• 71% The percentage our nation's freight movement that trucking accounts for
• 566 The number of railroads in the U.S.

Did you know?

• More than $1 out of every $10 produced in the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) is related to transportation activity.
• 1 in every 15 people working in the U.S is employed in the trucking industry.
• The highest-valued imported products in the U.S. include agricultural products, industrial supplies, capital goods, and consumer goods.
• Shippers who partner with third-party logistics providers report an average cost reduction of 13%. 

* Source: http://www.thelogisticsoflogistics.com/2012/06/fun-facts-about-logistics/