Truckin’ Along: Which States Haul the Most?
Pickup trucks aren’t just vehicles—they’re a way of life. Whether hauling hay, towing trailers, or simply flexing muscle on the highway, trucks are a staple in American culture. But which states love their pickups the most?
Using vehicle registration and census data, we ranked all 50 U.S. states from least to most pickup trucks per capita. Some of the bottom states may surprise you—others, not so much (spoiler alert: Texas isn't number 1).
Let’s hit the road and see who’s got the biggest fleet of beds and tailgates.
50: New Jersey
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 79
Total registered pickups: ~720,000
Urban vs. rural population: 94% urban
Notable: New Jersey’s tight roads and urban density don’t favor big trucks. SUVs dominate here.
Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
49: New York
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 81
Total registered pickups: ~1.6 million
Urban vs. rural population: 92% urban
Notable: Outside upstate farms and the Adirondacks, pickups take a back seat to sedans and subways.
48: Rhode Island
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 85
Total registered pickups: ~200,000
Urban vs. rural population: 90% urban
Notable: The Ocean State prefers smaller vehicles for its compact cities and short commutes.
47: Massachusetts
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 91
Total registered pickups: ~1.1 million
Urban vs. rural population: 92% urban
Notable: Despite some rural charm in the west, pickups don’t rule the roads in Mass.
Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
46: Connecticut
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 96
Total registered pickups: ~770,000
Urban vs. rural population: 88% urban
Notable: More hedge funds than hay bales—Connecticut leans luxury over heavy-duty.
JJBers, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
45: California
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 102
Total registered pickups: ~4.2 million
Urban vs. rural population: 95% urban
Notable: While total truck numbers are high, they’re diluted by California’s huge population.
44: Illinois
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 107
Total registered pickups: ~1.4 million
Urban vs. rural population: 88% urban
Notable: Chicago's influence keeps pickups in check—but they’re more common downstate.
43: Maryland
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 110
Total registered pickups: ~670,000
Urban vs. rural population: 88% urban
Notable: Close-knit suburbs and congested corridors don’t encourage big rigs.
42: Hawaii
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 113
Total registered pickups: ~170,000
Urban vs. rural population: 91% urban
Notable: Island life means fewer long hauls—but trucks still have their beachy appeal.
ArdentArbitration, Wikimedia Commons
41: Pennsylvania
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 117
Total registered pickups: ~2.1 million
Urban vs. rural population: 83% urban
Notable: Trucks gain ground in central PA, but Philly and Pittsburgh keep the average low.
40: Delaware
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 120
Total registered pickups: ~130,000
Urban vs. rural population: 85% urban
Notable: Small state, small truck count—but rising in beach towns and rural stretches.
Tim Kiser (User:Malepheasant), CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
39: Michigan
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 125
Total registered pickups: ~1.3 million
Urban vs. rural population: 75% urban
Notable: Home of the Big Three, but residents still favor SUVs over pickups.
38: Washington
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 129
Total registered pickups: ~1.1 million
Urban vs. rural population: 84% urban
Notable: More logging roads than city streets west of the Cascades.
37: Oregon
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 134
Total registered pickups: ~950,000
Urban vs. rural population: 83% urban
Notable: A mix of rugged outdoor types and city commuters keep truck ownership steady.
Spicypepper999, Wikimedia Commons
36: Florida
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 138
Total registered pickups: ~3.2 million
Urban vs. rural population: 91% urban
Notable: From Everglades to panhandle, Florida’s flatlands and contractors fuel pickup demand.
Clement Bardot, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
35: Ohio
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 143
Total registered pickups: ~1.7 million
Urban vs. rural population: 78% urban
Notable: Factory towns and farms help keep trucks firmly in the mix.
Nicholas J. Klein, Adobe Stock
34: Wisconsin
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 148
Total registered pickups: ~1.1 million
Urban vs. rural population: 70% urban
Notable: Dairy farms and harsh winters make pickups a practical choice across the state.
33: Nevada
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 152
Total registered pickups: ~540,000
Urban vs. rural population: 95% urban
Notable: Vegas may be all flash, but Nevada’s rural backbone depends on pickups.
Rmvisuals, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
32: Minnesota
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 158
Total registered pickups: ~1 million
Urban vs. rural population: 73% urban
Notable: Ice, snow, and hunting season keep Minnesota’s pickup demand strong.
31: Indiana
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 161
Total registered pickups: ~1.1 million
Urban vs. rural population: 72% urban
Notable: A manufacturing hub with farmland galore—pickup country through and through.
Nicholas J. Klein, Adobe Stock
30: Georgia
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 165
Total registered pickups: ~1.8 million
Urban vs. rural population: 83% urban
Notable: From Atlanta’s outskirts to southern farmland, pickups are a staple.
29: North Carolina
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 168
Total registered pickups: ~1.9 million
Urban vs. rural population: 80% urban
Notable: Trucks outpace sedans in many towns, especially in the Piedmont and east.
Precisionviews, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
28: Missouri
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 171
Total registered pickups: ~1.1 million
Urban vs. rural population: 70% urban
Notable: From Ozarks to ag fields, Missouri trucks are workhorses.
27: South Carolina
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 176
Total registered pickups: ~1 million
Urban vs. rural population: 75% urban
Notable: Whether hauling boats or building homes, trucks are everywhere here.
Akhenaton06, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
26: Alabama
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 180
Total registered pickups: ~1.1 million
Urban vs. rural population: 71% urban
Notable: Pickups are common across both cities and countryside.
Carol M. Highsmith, Wikimedia Commons
25: Iowa
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 185
Total registered pickups: ~580,000
Urban vs. rural population: 64% urban
Notable: Cornfields and cattle country—trucks are more essential than optional.
24: North Dakota
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 189
Total registered pickups: ~220,000
Urban vs. rural population: 58% urban
Notable: Long winters, oil rigs, and wheat fields make pickups nearly mandatory.
23: Kentucky
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 192
Total registered pickups: ~910,000
Urban vs. rural population: 61% urban
Notable: With equestrian farms and mountain roads, trucks are part of everyday life.
Grindstone Media Grp, Adobe Stock
22: Montana
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 197
Total registered pickups: ~250,000
Urban vs. rural population: 55% urban
Notable: Big sky, big land, big trucks. Ranchers rule the roads.
21: Arkansas
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 200
Total registered pickups: ~700,000
Urban vs. rural population: 58% urban
Notable: The Natural State naturally leans toward big, brawny vehicles.
Law7833, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
20: Mississippi
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 204
Total registered pickups: ~720,000
Urban vs. rural population: 51% urban
Notable: Rural roads, muddy trails, and construction sites demand pickups.
19: Louisiana
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 209
Total registered pickups: ~970,000
Urban vs. rural population: 73% urban
Notable: Pickups are equally at home in bayous and job sites across the state.
Spatms, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
18: Alaska
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 214
Total registered pickups: ~160,000
Urban vs. rural population: 66% urban
Notable: Remote roads and icy winters make trucks essential survival gear.
Quintin Soloviev, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
17: Oklahoma
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 217
Total registered pickups: ~900,000
Urban vs. rural population: 67% urban
Notable: Tornado country doesn’t mess around—tough terrain calls for tough trucks.
Nicholas J. Klein, Adobe Stock
16: Idaho
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 221
Total registered pickups: ~430,000
Urban vs. rural population: 70% urban
Notable: Potatoes and pickups go hand in hand in the Gem State.
15: South Dakota
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 224
Total registered pickups: ~260,000
Urban vs. rural population: 56% urban
Notable: On ranches or in Rapid City, the pickup is king.
14: West Virginia
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 229
Total registered pickups: ~400,000
Urban vs. rural population: 51% urban
Notable: Trucks power through mountainous coal country and rural communities alike.
13: Wyoming
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 234
Total registered pickups: ~170,000
Urban vs. rural population: 65% urban
Notable: The least populated state has one of the highest pickup ratios.
12: Maine
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 239
Total registered pickups: ~380,000
Urban vs. rural population: 61% urban
Notable: Rugged coastline, harsh winters, and rural isolation drive truck usage.
11: Nebraska
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 243
Total registered pickups: ~580,000
Urban vs. rural population: 69% urban
Notable: Flat, open farmland practically demands a durable hauler.
10: Arizona
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 247
Total registered pickups: ~1.6 million
Urban vs. rural population: 90% urban
Notable: Hot desert drives and off-road adventures make trucks popular statewide.
9: New Mexico
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 251
Total registered pickups: ~600,000
Urban vs. rural population: 77% urban
Notable: Long desert highways and rugged terrain call for trusty trucks.
MARELBU, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
8: Kansas
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 255
Total registered pickups: ~740,000
Urban vs. rural population: 67% urban
Notable: Farms, feedlots, and small towns love their pickups.
Srudisell, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
7: Utah
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 259
Total registered pickups: ~950,000
Urban vs. rural population: 90% urban
Notable: Popular for both work and off-roading in Utah’s canyons and plains.
6: Colorado
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 263
Total registered pickups: ~1.4 million
Urban vs. rural population: 86% urban
Notable: Mountain living and adventure sports fuel pickup culture.
5: Texas
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 269
Total registered pickups: ~7.8 million
Urban vs. rural population: 85% urban
Notable: Everything’s bigger in Texas—including the number of trucks.
75316serk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
4: Tennessee
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 272
Total registered pickups: ~1.8 million
Urban vs. rural population: 73% urban
Notable: Music City may sing about trucks—but rural Tennessee lives in them.
3: Kentucky
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 278
Total registered pickups: ~930,000
Urban vs. rural population: 61% urban
Notable: Bluegrass, bourbon, and backroads—perfect for a pickup.
Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2: Mississippi
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 281
Total registered pickups: ~750,000
Urban vs. rural population: 51% urban
Notable: A pickup is almost standard equipment in the Magnolia State.
1: Alaska
Pickup trucks per 1,000 people: 284
Total registered pickups: ~165,000
Urban vs. rural population: 66% urban
Notable: Harsh winters, unpaved roads, and massive distances make pickups a way of life here—Alaska hauls in the top spot.
Alan Wu, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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Sources: 1, 2, 3
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