Freight Facts and Figures 2013
Tables 5-7 and 5-7M. Fuel Consumption by Transportation Mode: 2007-2011
In recent years, increases in fuel costs, a slight decrease in the number of trucks on the road, and improved energy efficiency have affected the number of gallons of fuel burned by commercial trucks. From 2007 to 2011, truck fuel consumption declined by 10 percent, from 47.2 billion gallons to 42.4 billion gallons. Fuel use in Class I freight railroads declined by 9 percent, from 4.1 billion gallons in 2007 to 3.7 billion gallons in 2011.
Table 5-7 (standard units)
 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway1 | |||||
| Gasoline, diesel and other fuels (million gallons) | 176,203 | 170,765 | 168,140 | (R) 170,411 | 168,597 |
| Truck, total | 47,219 | 47,704 | (R) 44,303 | (R) 45,023 | 42,377 |
| Single-unit 2-axle 6-tire or more truck | 16,314 | 17,144 | (R) 16,253 | (R) 15,097 | 14,183 |
| Combination truck | 30,904 | 30,561 | (R) 28,050 | (R) 29,927 | 28,193 |
| Truck (percent of total) | 26.8 | 27.9 | (R) 26.3 | (R) 26.4 | 25.1 |
| Rail, Class I (in freight service) | |||||
| Distillate/diesel fuel (million gallons) | 4,062 | 3,886 | 3,192 | (R) 3,519 | 3,710 |
| Water | |||||
| Residual fuel oil (million gallons) | 6,327 | 5,066 | 4,543 | (R) 5,143 | 4,560 |
| Distillate/diesel fuel oil (million gallons) | 1,924 | 1,187 | 1,266 | (R) 2,003 | 2,133 |
| Gasoline (million gallons) | 1,222 | 1,136 | 1,130 | 1,167 | 1,104 |
| Pipeline | |||||
| Natural gas (million cubic feet) | 621,364 | 647,956 | (R) 670,174 | (R) 667,124 | 683,715 |
Key: R = revised.
1Based on a new methodology, FHWA revised its annual vehicle miles travelled, number of vehicles, and fuel economy data beginning with 2007. Information on the new methodology is available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm. Data in this table should not be compared to those in pre-2011 editions of Freight Facts and Figures.
Sources:
Highway: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: annual issues), table VM-1.
Rail: Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts (Washington, DC: annual issues), p. 61.
Water: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Fuel Oil and Kerosene Sales 2011 (Washington, DC: 2012), tables 2, 4, and similar tables in earlier editions; U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: annual issues), table MF-24, available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2011/ as of September 20, 2013.
Pipeline: U.S. Department of Energy, Natural Gas Annual 2011 (Washington, DC: January 2013), table 15 and similar tables in earlier editions.
Table 5-7M (metric units)
|
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway1 | |||||
| Gasoline, diesel and other fuels (million liters) | 666,929 | 646,349 | 636,412 | (R) 645,006 | 638,143 |
| Truck, total | 178,724 | 180,562 | 167,686 | (R) 170,413 | 160,396 |
| Single-unit 2-axle 6-tire or more truck | 61,750 | 64,888 | 61,516 | (R) 57,141 | 53,684 |
| Combination truck | 116,973 | 115,673 | 106,170 | (R) 113,273 | 106,712 |
| Truck (percent of total) | 26.8 | 27.9 | (R) 26.3 | (R) 26.4 | 25.1 |
| Rail, Class I (in freight service) | |||||
| Distillate/diesel fuel (million liters) | (R) 15,471 | (R) 14,804 | (R) 12,188 | (R) 13,320 | 14,044 |
| Water | |||||
| Residual fuel oil (million liters) | 23,948 | 19,174 | (R) 17,370 | 15,919 | 17,260 |
| Distillate/diesel fuel oil (million liters) | 7,282 | 4,495 | (R) 7,241 | 5,085 | 8,075 |
| Gasoline (million liters) | 4,625 | 4,301 | 4,278 | 4,417 | 4,179 |
| Pipeline | |||||
| Natural gas (million cubic meters) | 17,595 | 18,348 | 18,977 | (R) 18,089 | 19,361 |
Key: R = revised.
1Based on a new methodology, FHWA revised its annual vehicle miles travelled, number of vehicles, and fuel economy data beginning with 2007. Information on the new methodology is available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm. Data in this table should not be compared to those in pre-2011 editions of Freight Facts and Figures.
Notes:
1 liter = 0.2642 gallons; 1 cubic meter = 35.3147 cubic feet.
Sources:
Highway: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: annual issues), table VM-1.
Rail: Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts (Washington, DC: annual issues), p. 61.
Water: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Fuel Oil and Kerosene Sales 2011 (Washington, DC: 2012), tables 2, 4, and similar tables in earlier editions; U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: annual issues), table MF-24, available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2011/ as of September 20, 2013.
Pipeline: U.S. Department of Energy, Natural Gas Annual 2011 (Washington, DC: January 2013), table 15 and similar tables in earlier editions.
You may need the Microsoft Excel Viewer to view Excel files on this page.
