Freight Facts and Figures 2008

Tables 5-9 and 5-9M. Combination Truck Fuel Consumption and Travel: 1980-2006

In contrast to single-unit trucks, miles per gallon by combination trucks (based on total travel and fuel consumption) decreased about 4 percent over the past 26 years.  Consequently, the gallons of fuel consumed more than doubled between 1980 and 2006.  Vehicle miles traveled also more than doubled over the same period.

Table 5-9 (standard units)

Table in Excel format | Historical data

	1980	1990	2000	2005	2006
Number registered (thousands)	1,417	1,709	2,097	2,087	2,170
Vehicle miles traveled (millions)	68,678	94,341	135,020	(R) 144,028	142,706
Fuel consumed (million gallons)	13,037	16,133	25,666	(R) 27,689	28,075
Average miles traveled per vehicle	48,472	55,206	64,399	(R) 69,020	70,986
Average miles traveled per gallon	5.3	5.8	5.3	(R) 5.2	5.1
Average fuel consumed per vehicle (gallons)	9,201	9,441	12,241	(R) 13,269	13,965

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 5-9M (metric units)

Table in Excel format | Historical data

	1980	1990	2000	2005	2006
Number registered (thousands)	1,417	1,709	2,097	2,087	2,170
Vehicle kilometers traveled (millions)	110,527	151,827	217,294	(R) 231,791	229,663
Fuel consumed (million liters)	49,350	61,070	97,155	(R) 104,813	106,274
Average kilometers traveled per vehicle	78,008	88,845	103,640	(R) 111,077	105,852
Average kilometers traveled per liter	2.2	2.5	2.2	(R) 2.2	2.2
Average fuel consumed per vehicle (liters)	34,831	35,737	46,339	(R) 50,228	48,982

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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