Which decade saw the number of licensed motor carriers more than double to over 40,000?

The 1980s were a pivotal decade for the trucking industry, particularly due to significant regulatory changes that encouraged growth in the number of licensed motor carriers. The deregulation introduced by the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 dismantled many of the restrictive practices in the trucking industry, allowing for increased competition and enabling more entrepreneurs to enter the market. This led to a dramatic rise in the number of licensed motor carriers, effectively doubling the count to over 40,000 by the end of the decade.

The regulatory landscape that characterized the 1980s fostered an environment ripe for expansion, as new companies could enter the industry without the burden of stringent federal oversight that previously restrained entry levels. This important transformation laid the groundwork for the modern trucking industry we see today, emphasizing the essential role that this decade played in shaping transport logistics and freight movements.