Freight Facts and Figures 2009

Tables 5-8 and 5-8M. Single-Unit Truck Fuel Consumption and Travel: 1980-2007

Since 1980, miles per gallon by single-unit trucks (based on total travel and fuel consumption) increased by more than 40 percent. Total fuel consumed increased 45 percent whereas miles traveled more than doubled, indicating that miles per gallon increased from 5.8 to 8.2 between 1980 and 2007.

Table 5-8 (standard units)

Table in Excel format | Historical data

	1980	1990	2000	2006	2007
Number registered (thousands)	4,374	4,487	5,926	6,649	6,807
Vehicle miles (millions)	39,813	51,901	70,500	(R) 80,344	81,954
Fuel consumed (million gallons)	6,923	8,357	9,563	(R) 9,852	10,035
Average miles traveled per vehicle	9,103	11,567	11,897	(R) 12,083	12,040
Average miles traveled per gallon	5.8	6.2	7.4	8.2	8.2
Average fuel consumed per vehicle (gallons)	1,583	1,862	1,614	(R) 1,482	1,474

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/2007/ as of April 1, 2009.

Table 5-8M (metric units)

Table in Excel format | Historical data

	1980	1990	2000	2006	2007
Number registered (thousands)	4,374	4,487	5,926	6,649	6,807
Vehicle kilometers (millions)	64,073	83,527	113,459	(R) 129,295	131,886
Fuel consumed (million liters)	26,206	31,635	36,200	(R) 37,291	37,983
Average kilometers traveled per vehicle	14,649	18,615	19,146	(R) 19,445	19,376
Average kilometers traveled per liter	2.4	2.6	3.1	3.5	3.5
Average fuel consumed per vehicle (liter)	5,992	7,050	6,109	(R) 5,608	5,580

Key: R = revised.

Notes:

1 kilometer = 0.6214 miles; 1 liter = 0.2642 gallons.

Source:

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