Office of Operations Freight Management and Operations

Table 5-13. Current and Future Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Emissions by Freight Transportation Mode: 2002, 2010, 2020

Freight emissions of NOx are forecast to decline by almost two-thirds over the next two decades. Trucks are by far the largest contributor to freight emissions nationally, producing two-thirds of NOx from the freight sector. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency passed new rules requiring the use of ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel in heavy-duty trucks and other diesel-powered highway vehicles beginning in June 2006. ULSD will reduce emissions of NOx and enable the use of advanced pollution control technologies to meet 2007 emissions standards.

Table in Excel format | Historical data

empty Cell Tons
2002
Tons
2010
Tons
2020
Percent Change,
2002-2010
Percent Change,
2002-2020
Heavy-duty trucks3,782,0002,186,900662,600-42-82
Freight rail857,200563,200486,400-34-43
Commercial marine1,011,000987,200938,600-2-7
Air freight8,20010,00012,4002251
Freight total5,658,4003,747,2992,099,999-34-63

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Impacts of Freight Movement on Air Quality, prepared by ICF Consulting, January 26, 2005, based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Emissions Inventory.


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