Freight Facts and Figures 2011
Tables 5-7 and 5-7M. Fuel Consumption by Transportation Mode: 2007-2009
Fuel consumption is a major concern for environmental and other reasons. The number of gallons of fuel burned by commercial trucks decreased by nearly five percent from 2007 to 2009. This is due, in part, to increases in fuel costs, a slight decrease in the number of trucks on the road, and improved energy efficiency. Fuel use in Class I freight railroads declined from 4.1 billion gallons in 2007 to 3.2 billion gallons in 2009.
Table 5-7 (standard units)
Table in Excel format | Historical data
 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highway1 | |||
| Gasoline, diesel and other fuels (million gallons) | 176,203 | 170,765 | 168,140 |
| Truck, total | 47,219 | 47,704 | 44,472 |
| Single-unit 2-axle 6-tire or more truck | 16,314 | 17,144 | 16,342 |
| Combination truck | 30,904 | 30,561 | 28,130 |
| Truck (percent of total) | 26.8 | 27.9 | 26.4 |
| Rail, Class I (in freight service) | |||
| Distillate/diesel fuel (million gallons) | 4,062 | 3,886 | 3,192 |
| Water | |||
| Residual fuel oil (million gallons) | 6,327 | 5,066 | 4,543 |
| Distillate/diesel fuel oil (million gallons) | 1,924 | 1,187 | 1,266 |
| Gasoline (million gallons) | 1,222 | 1,136 | 1,130 |
| Pipeline | |||
| Natural gas (million cubic feet) | 621,364 | (R) 647,956 | 598,216 |
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 previous 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, available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2009/ as of October 5, 2011.
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 2009 (Washington, DC: 2010), tables 2, 4, and similar tables in earlier editions.
Pipeline: U.S. Department of Energy, Natural Gas Annual 2009 (Washington, DC: December 2010), table 15 and similar tables in earlier editions.
Table 5-7M (metric units)
Table in Excel format | Historical data
|
2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highway1 | |||
| Gasoline, diesel and other fuels (million liters) | 666,929 | 646,349 | 636,412 |
| Truck, total | 178,724 | 180,562 | 168,328 |
| Single-unit 2-axle 6-tire or more truck | 61,750 | 64,888 | 61,855 |
| Combination truck | 116,973 | 115,673 | 106,473 |
| Truck (percent of total) | 101.4 | 27.9 | 26.4 |
| Rail, Class I (in freight service) | |||
| Distillate/diesel fuel (million liters) | 15,375 | 14,709 | 12,082 |
| Water | |||
| Residual fuel oil (million liters) | 23,948 | 19,174 | 17,197 |
| Distillate/diesel fuel oil (million liters) | 7,282 | 4,495 | 4,793 |
| Gasoline (million liters) | 4,625 | 4,301 | 4,278 |
| Pipeline | |||
| Natural gas (million cubic meters) | 17,595 | 18,348 | 16,940 |
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 previous 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, available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2009/ as of October 5, 2011.
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 2009 (Washington, DC: 2010), tables 2, 4, and similar tables in earlier editions.
Pipeline: U.S. Department of Energy, Natural Gas Annual 2009 (Washington, DC: December 2010), table 15 and similar tables in earlier editions.
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