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Freight Facts and Figures 2009

Tables 3-3 and 3-3M. Trucks and Truck Miles by Average Weight: 1987-20021

The nation’s truck fleet has grown significantly in number and distance driven.  Of trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds registered to businesses, individuals, and organizations other than government, most growth has occurred at either end of the weight spectrum.  Distance traveled has more than doubled in 15 years for trucks weighing between 10,000 pounds and 26,000 pounds and for trucks weighing over 80,000 pounds.  Trucks between 60,000 pounds and 80,000 pounds form the largest category in both number of trucks and vehicle miles traveled because in most cases 80,000 pounds is the maximum weight allowed on the highway system without special permits.

Table 3-3 (standard units)

Table in Excel format

Average weight (pounds) 1987
Number (thousands)
1987
VMT (millions)
1992
Number (thousands)
1992
VMT (millions)
1997
Number (thousands)
1997
VMT (millions)
2002
Number (thousands)
2002
VMT (millions)
Percent change,
1987-2002 Number
Percent change,
1987-2002 VMT
Total 3,624 89,972 4,008 104,987 4,701 147,876 5,415 145,624 49 62
Light-heavy 1,030 10,768 1,259 14,012 1,436 19,815 1,914 26,256 86 144
10,001 to 14,000 525 5,440 694 8,000 819 11,502 1,142 15,186 118 179
14,001 to 16,000 242 2,738 282 2,977 316 3,951 396 5,908 64 116
16,001 to 19,500 263 2,590 282 3,035 301 4,362 376 5,161 43 99
Medium-heavy 766 7,581 732 8,143 729 10,129 910 11,766 19 55
19,501 to 26,000 766 7,581 732 8,143 729 10,129 910 11,766 19 55
Heavy-heavy 1,829 71,623 2,017 82,832 2,536 117,931 2,591 107,602 42 50
26,001 to 33,000 377 5,411 387 5,694 428 7,093 437 5,845 16 8
33,001 to 40,000 209 4,113 233 5,285 257 6,594 229 3,770 10 -8
40,001 to 50,000 292 7,625 339 9,622 400 13,078 318 6,698 9 -12
50,001 to 60,000 188 7,157 227 8,699 311 12,653 327 8,950 74 25
60,001 to 80,000 723 45,439 781 51,044 1,070 74,724 1,179 77,489 63 71
80,001 to 100,000 28 1,254 33 1,529 46 2,427 69 2,950 144 135
100,001 to 130,000 8 440 12 734 18 1,051 26 1,571 238 257
130,001 or more 4 185 5 227 6 312 6 329 43 78

Key: VMT = vehicle miles traveled.

1Excludes trucks with an average weight of 10,000 pounds or less.

Notes:

Weight includes the empty weight of the vehicle plus the average weight of the load carried. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

Sources:

U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2002 Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey: United States, EC02TV-US (Washington, DC: 2004), available at www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec02tv-us.pdf as of April 13, 2009; U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 1992 Truck Inventory and Use Survey: United States, TC92-T-52 (Washington, DC: 1995), available at www.census.gov/prod/ec97/97tv-us.pdf as of April 13, 2009.

 

Table 3-3M (metric units)

Table in Excel format

Average weight (kilograms) 1987
Number (thousands)
1987
VKT (millions)
1992
Number (thousands)
1992
VKT (millions)
1997
Number (thousands)
1997
VKT (millions)
2002
Number (thousands)
2002
VKT (millions)
Percent change,
1987-2002 Number
Percent change,
1987-2002 VKT
Total 3,624.3 144,789 4,007.5 168,952 4,700.5 237,972 5,415.3 234,348 49 62
Light-heavy 1,029.6 17,328 1,259.0 22,550 1,435.6 31,888 1,914.1 42,252 86 144
4,536 to 6,350 524.9 8,754 694.3 12,874 818.9 18,509 1,142.1 24,439 118 179
6,351 to 7,257 242.0 4,407 282.4 4,791 315.9 6,359 395.9 9,508 64 116
7,258 to 8,845 262.7 4,168 282.3 4,884 300.8 7,020 376.1 8,306 43 99
Medium-heavy 766.1 12,200 732.0 13,103 729.3 16,301 910.3 18,934 19 55
8,846 to 11,793 766.1 12,200 732.0 13,103 729.3 16,301 910.3 18,934 19 55
Heavy-heavy 1,828.6 115,261 2,016.5 133,299 2,535.6 189,782 2,590.9 173,161 42 50
11,794 to 14,969 376.9 8,707 387.3 9,163 427.7 11,414 436.8 9,407 16 8
14,969 to 18,144 208.5 6,619 232.6 8,505 256.7 10,612 228.8 6,066 10 -8
18,144 to 22,680 292.2 12,271 338.6 15,484 399.9 21,046 318.4 10,778 9 -12
22,680 to 27,216 187.9 11,517 226.7 13,998 311.4 20,361 326.6 14,404 74 25
27,216 to 36,287 722.7 73,123 781.1 82,143 1,069.8 120,250 1,178.7 124,701 63 71
36,288 to 45,359 28.2 2,018 33.3 2,460 46.3 3,906 68.9 4,747 144 135
45,360 to 58,967 7.8 708 12.3 1,181 17.9 1,691 26.4 2,528 238 257
58,967 or more 4.4 298 4.6 365 5.9 502 6.3 530 43 78

Key: VKT = vehicle kilometers traveled.

1Excludes trucks with an average weight of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less.

Notes:

1 kilometer = 0.6214 miles; 1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds. Weight includes the empty weight of the vehicle plus the average weight of the load carried. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

Sources:

U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2002 Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey: United States, EC02TV-US (Washington, DC: 2004), available at www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec02tv-us.pdf as of April 13, 2009; U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 1992 Truck Inventory and Use Survey: United States, TC92-T-52 (Washington, DC: 1995), available at www.census.gov/prod/ec97/97tv-us.pdf as of April 13, 2009.

 


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