Tables 3-4 and 3-4M: Number and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and Vehicle-Kilometers Traveled (VKT) of Trucks by Average Weight (Including Vehicle and Load)¹

The weight profile of heavy trucks on the road (those over 10,000 pounds) changed between 1987 and 2002 with greater use of trucks at both the lighter and heavier ends of the spectrum. Between 1987 and 2002, the number of light-heavy trucks (between 10,000 and 19,500 pounds) and heavy-heavy trucks (over 26,000 pounds) increased 86 percent and 42 percent respectively. Over the same period, the number of medium-heavy trucks (between 19,501 and 26,000 pounds) grew by only 19 percent. Trucks between 60,000 and 80,000 pounds average weight form the largest category in both number of trucks and vmt because in most cases 80,000 pounds is the maximum allowed on the highway system.

Table 3-4 (standard units)
Table in Excel format

Average weight (pounds)	1987 Number (thousands)	1987 VMT (millions)	1992 Number (thousands)	1992 VMT (millions)	1997 Number (thousands)	1997 VMT (millions)	2002 Number (thousands)	2002 VMT (millions)	Percent change, 1987-2002 Number	Percent change, 1987-2002 VMT
Total	3,624	89,972	4,008	104,987	4,701	147,876	5,415	145,624	49	62
Light-heavy	1,030	10,768	1,259	14,012	1,436	19,815	1,914	26,256	86	144
Light-heavy 10,001 to 14,000	525	5,440	694	8,000	819	11,502	1,142	15,186	118	179
Light-heavy 14,001 to 16,000	242	2,738	282	2,977	316	3,951	396	5,908	64	116
Light-heavy 16,001 to 19,500	263	2,590	282	3,035	301	4,362	376	5,161	43	99
Medium-heavy	766	7,581	732	8,143	729	10,129	910	11,766	19	55
Medium-heavy 19,501 to 26,000	766	7,581	732	8,143	729	10,129	910	11,766	19	55
Heavy-heavy	1,829	71,623	2,017	82,832	2,536	117,930	2,591	107,602	42	50
Heavy-heavy 26,001 to 33,000	377	5,411	387	5,694	428	7,093	437	5,845	16	8
Heavy-heavy 33,001 to 40,000	209	4,113	233	5,285	257	6,594	229	3,770	10	-8
Heavy-heavy 40,001 to 50,000	292	7,625	339	9,622	400	13,078	318	6,698	9	-12
Heavy-heavy 50,001 to 60,000	188	7,157	227	8,699	311	12,653	327	8,950	74	25
Heavy-heavy 60,001 to 80,000	723	45,439	781	51,044	1,070	74,724	1,179	77,489	63	71
Heavy-heavy 80,001 to 100,000	28	1,254	33	1,529	46	2,427	69	2,950	144	135
Heavy-heavy 100,001 to 130,000	8	440	12	734	18	1,051	26	1,571	238	257
Heavy-heavy 130,001 or more	4	185	5	227	6	312	6	329	43	78

¹Excludes trucks with an average weight of 10,000 pounds or less.

Note: Weight includes the empty weight of the vehicle plus the average weight of the load carried.

Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2002 Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey: United States (Washington, DC: 2004), available at http://www.census.gov/svsd/www/02vehinv.html as of July 1, 2005; U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 1992 Truck Inventory and Use Survey: United States (Washington, DC: 1995), available at http://www.census.gov/svsd/www/97vehinv.html as of July 1, 2005.

Table 3-4M (metric units)
Table in Excel format

Average weight (kilograms) 1987 Number (thousands) 1987 VKT (millions) 1992 Number (thousands) 1992 VKT (millions) 1997 Number (thousands) 1997 VKT (millions) 2002 Number (thousands) 2002 VKT (millions) Percent change, 1987-2002 Number Percent change, 1987-2002 VKT Total 3,624 144,796 4,008 168,960 4,701 237,983 5,415 234,359 49 62 Light-heavy 1,030 17,329 1,259 22,551 1,436 31,890 1,914 42,254 86 144 Light-heavy 4,536 to 6,350 525 8,754 694 12,875 819 18,510 1,142 24,440 118 179 Light-heavy 6,351 to 7,257 242 4,407 282 4,791 316 6,359 396 9,508 64 116 Light-heavy 7,258 to 8,845 263 4,168 282 4,885 301 7,021 376 8,306 43 99 Medium-heavy 766 12,200 732 13,104 729 16,302 910 18,935 19 55 Medium-heavy 8,846 to 11,793 766 12,200 732 13,104 729 16,302 910 18,935 19 55 Heavy-heavy 1,829 115,266 2,017 133,305 2,536 189,791 2,591 173,169 42 50 Heavy-heavy 11,794 to 14,969 377 8,708 387 9,163 428 11,414 437 9,407 16 8 Heavy-heavy 14,969 to 18,144 209 6,619 233 8,505 257 10,612 229 6,067 10 -8 Heavy-heavy 18,144 to 22,680 292 12,271 339 15,485 400 21,047 318 10,779 9 -12 Heavy-heavy 22,680 to 27,216 188 11,518 227 13,999 311 20,362 327 14,404 74 25 Heavy-heavy 27,216 to 36,287 723 73,127 781 82,147 1,070 120,256 1,179 124,707 63 71 Heavy-heavy 36,288 to 45,359 28 2,018 33 2,460 46 3,906 69 4,747 144 135 Heavy-heavy 45,360 to 58,967 8 708 12 1,181 18 1,691 26 2,528 238 257 Heavy-heavy 58,967 or more 4 298 5 365 6 502 6 530 43 78

¹ Excludes trucks with an average weight of 10,000 pounds or less.

Note: Weight includes the empty weight of the vehicle plus the average weight of the load carried; 1 mile = 1.61 kilometers; 1 pound = 0.45 kilogram.

Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2002 Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey: United States (Washington, DC: 2004), available at http://www.census.gov/svsd/www/02vehinv.html as of July 1, 2005; U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 1992 Truck Inventory and Use Survey: United States (Washington, DC: 1995), available at http://www.census.gov/econ/www/viusmain.html as of July 1, 2004.