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

	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

	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:

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