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As of March 31, 2024, there were approximately 14.52 million trucks registered for use in Japan. Trucks are divided into normal-sized, small-sized, and light trucks, and can be further distinguished between private-use and commercial-use.

Distinguishing commercial-use and private-use trucks

The distinction between commercial-use and private-use trucks in Japan is denoted by vehicle registration and is indicated by the color of the vehicle’s number plate. While trucks with white background number plates transport freight owned by the vehicle's owner, commercial-use trucks with green background number plates move freight owned by someone else in exchange for payment. Trucking businesses are furthermore divided into several categories by law: there are ‘general freight automobile transportation businesses’ and ‘designated automobile transportation businesses’, which differ primarily in respect to the number of clients. General trucking businesses may further be categorized by function, such as forwarding or door-to-door express deliveries. Businesses are also defined by size. In Japan, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) own 300 million Japanese yen or less of assets, and their employees do not exceed 300 people. SMEs make up more than 99 percent of general trucking businesses.

The trend towards commercial trucking

In recent years, the shift towards commercial trucking has become more and more pronounced. Commercial-use vehicles transport on average a higher volume over a longer distance compared to private-use vehicles. Concerning their capacity, commercial-use trucks are usually designed for heavier loads than private-use registrations. The payload distance of one vehicle per day is considerably higher for commercial-use trucks. These efficiency disparities stem from a higher degree of professionalization in the transportation business sector and are likely to grow. Since demand from online retail increases as labor shortages remain unsolved, the pressure to improve efficiency grows. A government initiative called ‘the White Logistics Movement’ encourages the introduction of new technology to increase productivity per worker and to remove industry-specific labor market obstacles for elderly and female workers. Demographic change and increasing efficiency in the trucking industry will further ease the demand for trucks in Japan.