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Freight Facts and Figures 2010

Tables 5-8 and 5-8M. Single-Unit Truck Fuel Consumption and Travel: 1980-2008

Since 1980, miles per gallon by single-unit trucks (based on total travel and fuel consumption) increased by more than 45 percent. Total fuel consumed increased by about 43 percent whereas miles traveled more than doubled, indicating that miles per gallon increased from 5.8 to 8.5 between 1980 and 2008.

Table 5-8 (standard units)

Table in Excel format | Historical data

Blank cell. 1980 1990 2000 2007 2008
Number registered (thousands) 4,374 4,487 5,926 6,807 6,791
Vehicle miles (millions) 39,813 51,901 70,500 (R) 82,014 83,951
Fuel consumed (million gallons) 6,923 8,357 9,563 (R) 10,044 9,889
Average miles traveled per vehicle 9,103 11,567 11,897 (R) 12,049 12,362
Average miles traveled per gallon 5.8 6.2 7.4 8.2 8.5
Average fuel consumed per vehicle (gallons) 1,583 1,862 1,614 (R) 1,476 1,456

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, available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2008/ as of April 25, 2010.

 

Table 5-8M (metric units)

Table in Excel format | Historical data

Blank cell. 1980 1990 2000 2007 2008
Number registered (thousands) 4,374 4,487 5,926 6,807 6,791
Vehicle kilometers (millions) 64,070 83,523 113,453 (R) 131,983 135,100
Fuel consumed (million liters) 26,204 31,631 36,196 (R) 38,017 37,429
Average kilometers traveled per vehicle 14,649 18,614 19,145 (R) 19,390 19,894
Average kilometers traveled per liter 2.4 2.6 3.1 3.5 3.6
Average fuel consumed per vehicle (liter) 5,991 7,050 6,108 (R) 5,585 5,512

Key: R = revised.

Notes:

1 kilometer = 0.6214 miles; 1 liter = 0.2642 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, available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2008/ as of April 25, 2010.

 


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