Freight Facts and Figures 2011
Tables 3-4 and 3-4M. Trucks and Truck Miles by Average Weight: 1987-20021
The nation's truck fleet has grown significantly in number and distance driven. Of trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds registered to businesses, individuals, and organizations other than government, most growth has occurred at either end of the weight spectrum. Distance traveled has more than doubled in 15 years for trucks weighing between 10,000 pounds and 26,000 pounds and for trucks weighing over 80,000 pounds. Trucks between 60,000 pounds and 80,000 pounds form the largest category in both number of trucks and vehicle miles traveled because in most cases 80,000 pounds is the maximum weight allowed on the highway system without special permits.
Table 3-4 (standard units)
| Average weight (pounds) | 1987 |
1992 |
1997 |
2002 |
Percent change, 1987-2002 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number (thousands) | VMT (millions) | Number (thousands) | VMT (millions) | Number (thousands) | VMT (millions) | Number (thousands) | VMT (millions) | Number | VMT | |
| Total | 3,624 | 89,972 | 4,008 | 104,987 | 4,701 | 147,876 | 5,415 | 145,624 | 49.4 | 61.9 |
| Light-heavy | 1,030 | 10,768 | 1,259 | 14,012 | 1,436 | 19,815 | 1,914 | 26,256 | 85.9 | 143.8 |
| 10,001 to 14,000 | 525 | 5,440 | 694 | 8,000 | 819 | 11,502 | 1,142 | 15,186 | 117.6 | 179.2 |
| 14,001 to 16,000 | 242 | 2,738 | 282 | 2,977 | 316 | 3,951 | 396 | 5,908 | 63.6 | 115.8 |
| 16,001 to 19,500 | 263 | 2,590 | 282 | 3,035 | 301 | 4,362 | 376 | 5,161 | 43.2 | 99.3 |
| Medium-heavy | 766 | 7,581 | 732 | 8,143 | 729 | 10,129 | 910 | 11,766 | 18.8 | 55.2 |
| 19,501 to 26,000 | 766 | 7,581 | 732 | 8,143 | 729 | 10,129 | 910 | 11,766 | 18.8 | 55.2 |
| Heavy-heavy | 1,829 | 71,623 | 2,017 | 82,832 | 2,536 | 117,931 | 2,591 | 107,602 | 41.7 | 50.2 |
| 26,001 to 33,000 | 377 | 5,411 | 387 | 5,694 | 428 | 7,093 | 437 | 5,845 | 15.9 | 8.0 |
| 33,001 to 40,000 | 209 | 4,113 | 233 | 5,285 | 257 | 6,594 | 229 | 3,770 | 9.7 | -8.4 |
| 40,001 to 50,000 | 292 | 7,625 | 339 | 9,622 | 400 | 13,078 | 318 | 6,698 | 9.0 | -12.2 |
| 50,001 to 60,000 | 188 | 7,157 | 227 | 8,699 | 311 | 12,653 | 327 | 8,950 | 73.8 | 25.1 |
| 60,001 to 80,000 | 723 | 45,439 | 781 | 51,044 | 1,070 | 74,724 | 1,179 | 77,489 | 63.1 | 70.5 |
| 80,001 to 100,000 | 28 | 1,254 | 33 | 1,529 | 46 | 2,427 | 69 | 2,950 | 144.3 | 135.2 |
| 100,001 to 130,000 | 8 | 440 | 12 | 734 | 18 | 1,051 | 26 | 1,571 | 238.5 | 257.2 |
| 130,001 or more | 4 | 185 | 5 | 227 | 6 | 312 | 6 | 329 | 43.2 | 77.9 |
Key: VMT = vehicle miles traveled.
1Excludes trucks with an average weight of 10,000 pounds or less.
Notes:
Weight includes the empty weight of the vehicle plus the average weight of the load carried. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.
Sources:
U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2002 Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey: United States, EC02TV-US (Washington, DC: 2004), available at www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec02tv-us.pdf as of August 22, 2011; U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 1992 Truck Inventory and Use Survey: United States, TC92-T-52 (Washington, DC: 1995), available at www.census.gov/prod/ec97/97tv-us.pdf as of August 22,2011.
Table 3-4M (metric units)
| Average weight (kilograms) | 1987 |
1992 |
1997 |
2002 |
Percent change, 1987-2002 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number (thousands) | VKT (millions) | Number (thousands) | VKT (millions) | Number (thousands) | VKT (millions) | Number (thousands) | VKT (millions) | Number | VKT | |
| Total | 3,624 | 144,789 | 4,008 | 168,952 | 4,701 | 237,972 | 5,415 | 234,348 | 49.4 | 61.9 |
| Light-heavy | 1,030 | 17,328 | 1,259 | 22,550 | 1,436 | 31,888 | 1,914 | 42,252 | 85.9 | 143.8 |
| 4,536 to 6,350 | 525 | 8,754 | 694 | 12,874 | 819 | 18,509 | 1,142 | 24,439 | 117.6 | 179.2 |
| 6,351 to 7,257 | 242 | 4,407 | 282 | 4,791 | 316 | 6,359 | 396 | 9,508 | 63.6 | 115.8 |
| 7,258 to 8,845 | 263 | 4,168 | 282 | 4,884 | 301 | 7,020 | 376 | 8,306 | 43.2 | 99.3 |
| Medium-heavy | 766 | 12,200 | 732 | 13,103 | 729 | 16,301 | 910 | 18,934 | 18.8 | 55.2 |
| 8,846 to 11,793 | 766 | 12,200 | 732 | 13,103 | 729 | 16,301 | 910 | 18,934 | 18.8 | 55.2 |
| Heavy-heavy | 1,829 | 115,261 | 2,017 | 133,299 | 2,536 | 189,782 | 2,591 | 173,161 | 41.7 | 50.2 |
| 11,794 to 14,969 | 377 | 8,707 | 387 | 9,163 | 428 | 11,414 | 437 | 9,407 | 15.9 | 8.0 |
| 14,969 to 18,144 | 209 | 6,619 | 233 | 8,505 | 257 | 10,612 | 229 | 6,066 | 9.7 | -8.4 |
| 18,144 to 22,680 | 292 | 12,271 | 339 | 15,484 | 400 | 21,046 | 318 | 10,778 | 9.0 | -12.2 |
| 22,680 to 27,216 | 188 | 11,517 | 227 | 13,998 | 311 | 20,361 | 327 | 14,404 | 73.8 | 25.1 |
| 27,216 to 36,287 | 723 | 73,123 | 781 | 82,143 | 1,070 | 120,250 | 1,179 | 124,701 | 63.1 | 70.5 |
| 36,288 to 45,359 | 28 | 2,018 | 33 | 2,460 | 46 | 3,906 | 69 | 4,747 | 144.3 | 135.2 |
| 45,360 to 58,967 | 8 | 708 | 12 | 1,181 | 18 | 1,691 | 26 | 2,528 | 238.5 | 257.2 |
| 58,967 or more | 4 | 298 | 5 | 365 | 6 | 502 | 6 | 530 | 43.2 | 77.9 |
Key: VKT = vehicle kilometers traveled.
1Excludes trucks with an average weight of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less.
Notes:
1 kilometer = 0.6214 miles; 1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds. Weight includes the empty weight of the vehicle plus the average weight of the load carried. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.
Sources:
U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2002 Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey: United States, EC02TV-US (Washington, DC: 2004), available at www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec02tv-us.pdf as of August 22, 2011; U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 1992 Truck Inventory and Use Survey: United States, TC92-T-52 (Washington, DC: 1995), available at www.census.gov/prod/ec97/97tv-us.pdf as of August 22, 2011.
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