What Is the Fuel Efficiency of a Semi Truck?

Semi trucks, also called tractor-trailers, semi-trailer trucks and combination tractors, refers to a vehicle that combines a towing engine and an attached semi-trailer. These vehicles are used to move freight.

Gas Mileage

Semi trucks earn an average of 6 miles per gallon, according to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Considerations

In October 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation unveiled new fuel efficiency and emissions standards for semi trucks and other heavy-duty trucks. Proposed standards require semi trucks to earn between 6.3 and 11.4 mpg per 1,000 lbs. carried. These standards take effect in 2014.

Significance

As of 2010, semi trucks consume 21 million barrels of petroleum a day. This represents 12 percent of the United States petroleum consumption, according to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Increasing gas mileage by 1 percent would save 285 million gallons of diesel fuel each year.

References

• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Navistar work to increase semi-truck fuel efficiency
• Environmental Protection Agency: EPA and NHTSA Propose First-Ever Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improve Fuel Efficiency of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles