Freight Facts and Figures 2012
Tables 5-7 and 5-7M. Fuel Consumption by Transportation Mode: 2007-2010
Fuel consumption is a major concern for environmental and other reasons. In recent years, increases in fuel costs, a slight decrease in the number of trucks on the road, and improved energy efficiency have affected the number of gallons of fuel burned by commercial trucks. From 2007 to 2010, truck fuel consumption declined by nearly five percent. Fuel use in Class I freight railroads declined 14 percent, from 4.1 billion gallons in 2007 to 3.5 billion gallons in 2010.
Table 5-7 (standard units)
 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway1 | ||||
| Gasoline, diesel and other fuels (million gallons) | 176,203 | 170,765 | 168,140 | 169,679 |
| Truck, total | 47,219 | 47,704 | (R) 44,303 | 44,957 |
| Single-unit 2-axle 6-tire or more truck | 16,314 | 17,144 | (R) 16,253 | 15,072 |
| Combination truck | 30,904 | 30,561 | (R) 28,050 | 29,885 |
| Truck (percent of total) | 26.8 | 27.9 | (R) 26.3 | 26.5 |
| Rail, Class I (in freight service) | ||||
| Distillate/diesel fuel (million gallons) | 4,062 | 3,886 | 3,192 | 3,494 |
| Water | ||||
| Residual fuel oil (million gallons) | 6,327 | 5,066 | 4,543 | 4,206 |
| Distillate/diesel fuel oil (million gallons) | 1,924 | 1,187 | 1,266 | 1,343 |
| Gasoline (million gallons) | 1,222 | 1,136 | 1,130 | 1,167 |
| Pipeline | ||||
| Natural gas (million cubic feet) | 621,364 | 647,956 | (R) 670,174 | 668,847 |
Key: R = revised
1Based on a new methodology, FHWA revised its annual vehicle miles travelled, number of vehicles, and fuel economy data beginning with 2007. Information on the new methodology is available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm. Data in this table should not be compared to those in pre-2011 editions of Freight Facts and Figures.
Sources:
Highway: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: annual issues), table VM-1.
Rail: Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts (Washington, DC: annual issues), p. 40.
Water: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Fuel Oil and Kerosene Sales 2010 (Washington, DC: 2011), tables 2, 4, and similar tables in earlier editions; U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: annual issues), table MF-24, available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2010/ as of July 20, 2012.
Pipeline: U.S. Department of Energy, Natural Gas Annual 2010 (Washington, DC: December 2011), table 15 and similar tables in earlier editions.
Table 5-7M (metric units)
|
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway1 | ||||
| Gasoline, diesel and other fuels (million liters) | 666,929 | 646,349 | 636,412 | 642,238 |
| Truck, total | 178,724 | 180,562 | (R) 167,686 | 170,162 |
| Single-unit 2-axle 6-tire or more truck | 61,750 | 64,888 | (R) 61,516 | 57,047 |
| Combination truck | 116,973 | 115,673 | (R) 106,170 | 113,115 |
| Truck (percent of total) | 26.8 | 27.9 | (R) 26.3 | 26.5 |
| Rail, Class I (in freight service) | ||||
| Distillate/diesel fuel (million liters) | 15,375 | 14,709 | 12,082 | 13,225 |
| Water | ||||
| Residual fuel oil (million liters) | 23,948 | 19,174 | 17,197 | 15,919 |
| Distillate/diesel fuel oil (million liters) | 7,282 | 4,495 | 4,793 | 5,085 |
| Gasoline (million liters) | 4,625 | 4,301 | 4,278 | 4,417 |
| Pipeline | ||||
| Natural gas (million cubic meters) | 17,595 | 18,348 | (R) 18,977 | 18,940 |
Key: R = revised
1Based on a new methodology, FHWA revised its annual vehicle miles travelled, number of vehicles, and fuel economy data beginning with 2007. Information on the new methodology is available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm. Data in this table should not be compared to those in pre-2011 editions of Freight Facts and Figures.
Notes:
1 liter = 0.2642 gallons; 1 cubic meter = 35.3147 cubic feet.
Sources:
Highway: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: annual issues), table VM-1.
Rail: Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts (Washington, DC: annual issues), p. 40.
Water: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Fuel Oil and Kerosene Sales 2010 (Washington, DC: 2011), tables 2, 4, and similar tables in earlier editions; U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: annual issues), table MF-24, available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2010/ as of July 20, 2012.
Pipeline: U.S. Department of Energy, Natural Gas Annual 2010 (Washington, DC: December 2011), table 15 and similar tables in earlier editions.
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