Freight Facts and Figures 2010
Table 5-10. Energy Intensities of Domestic Freight Transportation Modes: 1980-2008
Energy intensity is the amount of energy used in producing a given level of output or activity, in this case vehicle miles and ton miles. Compared with 1980, the energy intensity of both trucking and freight rail has improved. Domestic freight water transportation, measured by Btu per ton mile, has become less energy efficient.
Table in Excel format | Historical data
 |
1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway (Btu per vehicle mile) | 24,758 | 22,795 | 23,449 | (R) 23,252 | 22,077 |
| Railroad (Class I) (Btu per freight car mile) | 18,742 | 16,619 | 14,917 | 14,846 | 14,573 |
| Railroad (Class I) (Btu per ton mile) | 597 | 420 | 352 | 320 | 305 |
| Domestic water (Btu per ton mile) | 358 | 387 | 473 | 590 | 418 |
Key: Btu = British thermal unit; R = revised.
Source:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Transportation Energy Data Book: Edition 29 (Oak Ridge, TN: annual issues), table 2.16, available at cta.ornl.gov/data/index.shtml as of August 10, 2010.
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