NAICS 2022
488
Support Activities for Transportation
Analysis
NAICS 488 is the 2022 subsector for support activities for transportation. Census lists 102 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 49,494 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 853,486 people at an average annual payroll of $66,808 per employee (47th percentile of national industries). 55% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Across its national industries Census lists 102 index entries; typical ones are air traffic control services (except military), aircraft hangar rental, aircraft ferrying services and freight car cleaning services.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 8% and employment rose 15%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
It splits into 6 more detailed codes. The largest by establishments is 4885 (Freight Transportation Arrangement) with 21,873.
Its more detailed codes are 4881 Support Activities for Air Transportation (6,822 establishments), 4882 Support Activities for Rail Transportation (1,695 establishments), 4883 Support Activities for Water Transportation (2,635 establishments), 4884 Support Activities for Road Transportation (14,137 establishments), 4885 Freight Transportation Arrangement (21,873 establishments) and 4889 Other Support Activities for Transportation (2,332 establishments).
Official definition
Industries in the Support Activities for Transportation subsector provide services which support transportation. These services may be provided to transportation carrier establishments or to the general public. This subsector includes a wide array of establishments, including air traffic control services, marine cargo handling, and motor vehicle towing.
The Support Activities for Transportation subsector includes services to transportation, separated by type of mode serviced. The Support Activities for Rail Transportation industry includes services to the rail industry (e.g., railroad switching and terminal establishments). Ship repair and maintenance services not done in a shipyard are included in the Other Support Activities for Water Transportation industry. An example would be floating drydock services in a harbor.
Excluded from this subsector are establishments primarily engaged in providing factory conversion and overhaul of transportation equipment, which are classified in Subsector 336, Transportation Equipment Manufacturing. Establishments primarily engaged in providing rental and leasing of transportation equipment without operator are classified in Subsector 532, Rental and Leasing Services. Also, establishments primarily engaged in providing travel arrangement and reservation services are classified in Industry Group 5615, Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Index entries (102)
- Air traffic control services (except military)
- Aircraft hangar rental
- Aircraft ferrying services
- Freight car cleaning services
- Canal maintenance services (except dredging)
- Loading and unloading services at ports and harbors
- Cargo salvaging, marine
- Cargo checkers, marine
- Emergency road services (i.e., tow service)
- Bridge, tunnel, and highway operations
- Agents, shipping
- Crating goods for shipping
- Arrangement of car pools and vanpools (except ridesharing arrangement services)