Freight Facts and Figures 2008

Tables 5-8 and 5-8M. Single-Unit Truck Fuel Consumption and Travel: 1980-2006

Since 1980, miles per gallon by single-unit trucks (based on total travel and fuel consumption) increased by more than 40 percent.  Total fuel consumed increased 42 percent whereas miles traveled nearly doubled, indicating that miles per gallon increased from 5.8 to 8.2 between 1980 and 2006.

Table 5-8 (standard units)

Table in Excel format | Historical data

	1980	1990	2000	2005	2006
Number registered (thousands)	4,374	4,487	5,926	6,395	6,649
Vehicle miles (millions)	39,813	51,901	70,500	(R) 78,496	80,331
Fuel consumed (million gallons)	6,923	8,357	9,563	(R) 9,501	9,843
Average miles traveled per vehicle	9,103	11,567	11,897	(R) 12,274	12,081
Average miles traveled per gallon	5.8	6.2	7.4	(R) 8.3	8.2
Average fuel consumed per vehicle (gallons)	1,583	1,862	1,614	(R) 1,486	1,480

Key: R = revised.

Source:

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: annual issues), table VM-1 and similar tables in earlier editions.

 

Table 5-8M (metric units)

Table in Excel format | Historical data

	1980	1990	2000	2005	2006
Number registered (thousands)	4,374	4,487	5,926	6,395	6,649
Vehicle kilometers (millions)	64,073	83,527	113,459	(R) 126,327	129,280
Fuel consumed (million liters)	26,206	31,635	36,200	(R) 35,966	37,261
Average kilometers traveled per vehicle	14,649	18,615	19,146	(R) 19,753	19,443
Average kilometers traveled per liter	2.4	2.6	3.1	(R) 3.5	3.5
Average fuel consumed per vehicle (liter)	5,992	7,050	6,109	(R) 5,624	5,604

Key: R = revised.

Notes:

1 kilometer = 0.6 miles; 1 liter = 0.3 gallons.

Source:

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: annual issues), table VM-1 and similar tables in earlier editions.

 

 

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