[For the English abstract and full text of the article please see the attached PDF-File (English version follows Russian version)].ABSTRACT The transport complex of the country creates conditions for economic growth, delivers cargo and employees to the places of production of goods and services, acts as a powerful catalyst and serves as an effective means for solving geopolitical tasks. The article contains the theoretical foundations of cyclical development of the economic objects of the industry. The regular connection between the dynamics of periodic recessions and the rise of the economy and indicators of vital activity of motor transport is shown, the complete life cycle of the system’s existence and the so-called long cycle with duration of 40-60 years are presented in detail. The innovation factor is determined at the same time as a key factor in development of road transport. Accordingly, the intensity of the evolutionary process of upward and downward waves of the long cycle is estimated. Keywords: road transport, economy, cyclic development, evolution, innovations.