CENSUS RADIO BROADCAST SERVICE

      Edition #150--For Air Beginning Week of March 6, 1995

SEGMENT #2      America Keeps on Trucking, Runs 1:14

CAGLE:  With so much of America's needs travelling by truck, the
motor freight industry is a good barometer of the nation's
economic health.  Susan Keehan of the Census Bureau looks at the
latest figures.

KEEHAN:  The business recovery continued in 1993, with trucking
and warehousing revenues up 6 percent again.  The revenue was 
136 billion for the industry.

CAGLE:  One element of the trucking industry is by far the 
largest--the big 18-wheelers.

KEEHAN:  Long distance trucking accounts for about 75 percent
of the motor carrier revenue.  And the long distance trucking was
up 6 percent over 1992.

CAGLE:  And what did all those trucks carry?

KEEHAN:  Nearly 48 percent of the motor carrier revenue came from
transporting manufactured products, such as furniture, hardware,
glass products, textiles and apparel and the delivery of small
packages.

CAGLE:  In fact, courier services were up 8 percent over the 
previous year.  When it comes to expenses, one item dwarfs the
others.

KEEHAN:  Annual payroll makes up about 33 percent of the
expenses; purchased transportation--which includes intermodal
piggybacking--makes up about 19 percent.

CAGLE:  And Keehan says fuel, insurance, and maintenance each
account for about 6 percent of expenses for the motor freight
industry.  This is Maury Cagle reporting.