The United States economy depends on trucks to deliver nearly 70 percent of all freight transported annually in the U.S., accounting for $671 billion worth of manufactured and retail goods, according to the website truckinfo.net.  They estimate that 15.5 million trucks operate in the U.S., 2 million of them tractor-trailers. To operate them, the nation has 3.5 million truck drivers; one in nine are independent, and a majority of those are owner-operators.

Data indicates approximately 192,000 trucks are sold in the U.S. annually. According to Mike Clements of Whited Peterbilt of Maine, located on Hotel Road in Auburn, trucks today are designed to be more efficient, comfortable, safer and more environmentally friendly. The 2013 579 model he let us take a close look at has a more streamlined cab, increasing the fuel efficiency by half a mile per gallon of fuel, creating a savings of nearly $20,000 a year for the average truck driver who logs 100,000 miles.  The list price of $155,000 for this model includes a $9,250 selective catalytic reduction surcharge that will ensure cleaner emissions.  

With a fuel–fired heater that is separate from the engine, a trucker can shut off his or her engine and still stay warm when they need to pull over to get their mandatory rest during a long haul. With advancements in composite materials and electronics, trucks are lighter and more user friendly, not only creating a more comfortable ride for the truck driver, but making the new trucks more environmentally sound.