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U.S. Department of Transportation
Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Study
Report No. 2
Activity I: Task B
Identify Market Segments Competitive and Noncompetitive
TIUS Data Component
February, 1996
Prepared by
Alan Clayton Jessie Yeow
Phil Blow Christine Marksbury
Karen White Luis Escobar
Mark Dielman Ansari Khan
Carina Tornow Ben Ritchey
Mohammed Alam Harry Cohen
The primary objectives of the U.S. Department of Transportation's
Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight (TS&W) Study are to:
o assess the potential economic, safety, and
environmental impacts of changing existing TS&W limits;
and
o identify opportunities to increase the efficiency of
freight transportation while preserving safety and
highway infrastructure.
Reports which have been completed for the TS&W Study, to date,
include the following:
(1) Synthesis of Truck Size and Weight Studies and Issues
(2) Analysis of the Truck Inventory and Use Survey from the
Truck Size and Weight Perspective for Trucks with
Five-Axles or More
For more information, call Jim March, FHWA, 202-366-9233,
202-366-7696 (FAX), or e:mail: jim.march@fhwa.dot.gov
This document was prepared for use in the U.S. Department of
Transportation's Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Study. The
views expressed are those of the author(s) and are not
necessarily those of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Executive Summary
This report, as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT) Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight (TS&W) Study, provides
factual information about and analysis of the U.S. freight
hauling truck fleet, and is based on the Truck Inventory and Use
Survey (TIUS) data bases from 1992 and 1987. The Bureau of the
Census collects truck data every five years with 1992 being the
latest data available. The TIUS can be used to help understand
the U.S. truck fleet make-up,size, uses, location, and type of
commodities hauled at the national and regional levels. This
information will be used to present a picture of the U.S. truck
fleet and its uses as well as to evaluate the potential
national/regional TS&W policy options.
The TIUS provides data on the physical and operational
characteristics of the U.S. truck fleet. The survey contains a
sample of privately- and commercially-owned trucks. The survey
also covers trucks used for personal transportation and freight
hauling. The survey sample is drawn from each state's
registration records. For example, in 1992, the sample size was
over 150,000 trucks which reflected a population of over 60
million commercially- and privately-owned trucks in the U.S.
Since this report supports the U.S. DOT TS&W Study, larger trucks
hauling freight are the focus of the analysis. Specifically,
trucks with 5-axles or more that contain three types of
truck-trailer combinations were analyzed:
o straight truck with one trailer
o truck tractor with semitrailer
o truck tractor with two or more trailing units.
This Executive Summary provides highlights of these analyses of
the TIUS data, however, it is not a summary of the entire report.
First, some cautions are provided about the use of the TIUS
data analyses. Second, information is provided about how the
data are organized in the analyses with reference to the portions
of the main report that are relevant to each topic area. Third,
a brief set of highlights, based on the more detailed analyses
and findings contained in the body of this report, provide a
snapshot of the 1992 U.S. commercial truck fleet.
Cautionary Notes
There are a number of cautionary notes in reviewing this analysis
of the TIUS (see Section 1.4 for more detail), including:
o Data reported in the TIUS is based on State registration
data and the potential for registration-bias exists.
o Survey and population estimates are by registration state
and care needs to be taken in conducting analysis at the
state level. For example, triples are reported in Minnesota
where the use of such vehicles is not permitted. This may
be due to ownership in one state and use in another state.
Vehicle Categorization
In this report, the trucks from the TIUS data base were
categorized into vehicle configuration classes, vehicle groups,
and state of registration. The vehicle configuration class
identifies the way the truck is most often operated or used.
Each truck was classified based on three factors:
(1) Vehicle type: straight truck not pulling trailer, straight
truck pulling trailer, tractor pulling trailer, tractor
pulling two or more trailers
(2) Number of axles on truck or tractor
(3) Number of axles on each trailer.
Based on this categorization, the data were analyzed using five
major vehicle configurations(truck, truck + trailer,
tractor-semitrailer, tractor + doubles, and tractor + triples)
and 31 subclasses (see Section 2.1 for detailed descriptions).
Vehicle Groups
In this report, the TIUS data for trucks with 5-axles or more
were analyzed by dividing the data into eight vehicle groups, as
follows (see Figure 2.2-1 in Section 2.2 for descriptions):
o Truck + trailer with 5-axles (2+3 and 3+2)
o Truck + trailer with 6-axles or more (3+3, 4+2, 4+3)
3-S2 tractor-semitrailer
o Tractor-semitrailer with tridem axles (2-S3, 3-S3, 4-S3)
o Other tractor-semitrailer (4-S1, 4-S2)
o STAA tractor + double trailers (2-S1-2)
o Tractor + double trailer combinations with 6-axles or more
(all doubles except STAA as defined above).
o Tractor + triple trailers.
Traffic Regions And States
The report organizes the TIUS truck data into five regions (North
Central, North East, South Atlantic, South Gulf, and West) and
for each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Body Types
In this report, the TIUS data for trucks with 5-axles or more
were analyzed by 11 major body types, as follows (see Section 4.0
for more details):
o Platform (which consists of low boys and basic
platform types)
o Van (which includes multi-stop, basic enclosed, drop
frame, insulated non-refrigerated, insulated
refrigerated, and open top types)
o Auto transport
o Dump truck
o Grain bodies
o Garbage truck
o Livestock truck
o Pole, logging truck
o Tank truck, dry bulk
o Tank truck, liquids or gas
o Other (includes platforms with devices permanently
mounted, beverage truck, utility truck, winch or crane
truck, wrecker, service truck, yard tractor, oil field
truck, concrete mixer, and other).
Commodities Hauled
For the above-mentioned vehicle groups and body types, the TIUS
database was also analyzed by principal commodity types (see
Section 6.0). There were 29 commodity types ranging from raw
materials to manufactured goods.
Highlights of the U.S. Commercial Truck Fleet
The TIUS data provide a comprehensive factual base of U.S.
commercial freight hauling trucks. The focus of this report is a
selected subset of the U.S. truck fleet, trucks with 5-axles or
more, that will most likely be influenced by Federal TS&W
regulations and provides data/analysis of fleet size, location,
vehicle configuration, body type, principal commodity products
hauled, and vehicle operating statistics. Table ES-1 provides
only a snapshot of the 5-axles or more truck fleet in 1992 and
some changes since 1987.
TABLE ES-1
1992 U.S. COMMERCIAL FREIGHT
TRUCK FLEET HIGHLIGHTS
(Trucks with 5-axles or more, unless noted otherwise)
Truck Population
o 4.1 million total commercial trucks in 1992, a 4% increase
from 1987.*
o Total U.S. commercial truck fleet distribution:*
- 68% straight trucks
- 4% straight trucks pulling trailer(s)
- 26% tractor-semitrailer
- 1% tractor with 2 or more trailers.
o 976,000 trucks with 5-axles or more (of most interest to
truck size and weight analysis) in 1992, a 22% increase from
1987.
o 3-S2 (3-axle tractor with 2-axle semitrailer) trucks
- Most common freight hauling truck
- 19% of total truck fleet*
- 78% of trucks with 5-axles or more
- 21% growth in number of trucks between 1987/1992.
o Truck + trailers [straight trucks pulling a trailer(s)]
- 4% of total truck fleet*
- 7% of trucks with 5-axles or more, little change from
1987.
o Tractor-semitrailers with tridem axles (2-S3, 3-S3, 4-S3)
- 2% of total truck fleet*
- 7% of trucks with 5-axles or more
- 20% growth in the number of trucks between 1987/1992.
o STAA (2-axle tractor with 2-28' trailing units) trucks
- Less than 1% of total truck fleet*
- Only 3% of trucks with 5-axles or more, little change
from 1987.
o Double (2 or 3-axle tractor with 2 trailing units with 3+
axles) trucks
- Less than 1% of total truck fleet*
- 2% of trucks with 5-axles or more.
o Triple (2 or 3-axle tractor with 3-28' trailing units)
trucks
- Less than 1% of total truck fleet*
- Less than 1% of trucks with 5-axles or more.
Regional Differences
o West Region had 53% increase in trucks with 5-axles or more
versus the national average of a 22% increase between
1987/1992.
o North Central Region contains the largest number of trucks
with 5-axles or more with 38%, while the other four regions
have about 15% each.
o Illinois, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Ohio account
for 36% of trucks with 5-axles or more.
Trailer Types
o 3-S2 Van is the preferred freight hauling truck
configuration accounting for 40% of all trucks with 5-axles
or more.
o Van is the preferred trailer body type, used for 45% of all
trucks with 5-axles or more a 31% growth in the number of
trailers with this body type was experienced between 1987
and 1992.
o Platform is second preferred trailer type with 22% of all
trailers, but no growth from 1987.
o Van and Platform trailers comprise about 67% of all body
types used to haul freight.
Commodities Hauled
o Top 7 carried commodities are: Processed Foods, Mixed
Cargo, Building Material, Farm Products, Paper Products
Primary Metal, and Chemicals, respectively [as measured by
total fleet vehicle miles of travel (VMT)].
o STAA vehicles (2-S1-2) predominately carry Mixed Cargo
products (as measured by VMT).
o Tridem axle semitrailers predominately carry Building
products and Machinery products(as measured by VMT).
Trailer Width
o 102" trailer width gaining favor in all major trailer body
types (e.g., 65% of 3-S2 Basic Enclosed Vans use 102").
o 96" trailer width still preferred with several trailer body
types on 3-S2s (platform, grain, liquid tank, and dry tank).
Trailer Lengths
o 3-S2 Basic Enclosed Van increased use of 53 foot trailer
from about 17% in 1987 to 29% in 1992.**
o 3-S2 Reefer Van increased use of 53 foot trailer from about
27% in 1987 to 36% in 1992.**
o 3-S2 Liquid Tank, Dry Tank and Dump have little or no use
of 53 foot trailers(less than 7%).**
Truck Weights
o Average tare weight increased about 1,000 to 2,000 lbs.,
for trucks with 5-axles or more between 1987/1992 (e.g.,
3-S2 Basic Enclosed Vans increased from 29,300 to 30,500
lbs.).
o Average payload weight decreased, about 1,000 to 3,000
lbs., for trucks with 5-axles or more between 1987/1992
(e.g., 3-S2 Basic Enclosed Vans decreased from 37,500 to
36,200 lbs.).
Truck VMT
o Average annual VMT increased, 5 to 6 percent, for trucks
with 5-axles or more between 1987/1992 (e.g., 3-S2 Basic
Enclosed Vans VMT increased from 76,300 to 79,700).
* The data reflect the total commercial truck fleet including
trucks with 5-axles or more, but excludes personal trucks.
**An overall vehicle (tractor-semitrailer) length of 65 feet or
more was used as a measure of the use of 53 foot trailers for
tractor-semitrailer combinations.
Source: 1992 and 1987 TIUS data base.
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
1.1 Purpose and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
1.2 Truck Inventory and Use Survey (TIUS). . . . . . . . .1
1.3 The Truck Fleet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
1.4 Cautionary Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
2.0 Categorization of Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
2.1 Vehicle Configuration Classes. . . . . . . . . . . . .5
2.2 Vehicle Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
2.3 Traffic Regions and States . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
3.0 Analysis of the Distribution of the Truck Fleet . . . . . 12
3.1 Analysis Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.2 Observations on the Size of the Total Truck Fleet. . 12
3.3 Size and Make-up of the 4-Axles or Less Fleet . . . 13
3.4 Size of the 5-Axles or More Fleet. . . . . . . . . . 16
3.5 Make-up of the 5-Axles or More Fleet . . . . . . . . 21
3.6 Comments on the STAA Double Fleet. . . . . . . . . . 23
3.7 Comments on the Tridem Axle Fleet. . . . . . . . . . 23
4.0 Analysis of the 5-Axles or More Fleet by Body Type. . . . 27
4.1 Analysis Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4.2 Observations on Major Body Types in the 5-Axles or
More Fleet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
5.0 Analysis of the 5-Axles or More Truck Fleet by Principal
Product Carried. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
5.1 Analysis Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
5.2 Observations on the Principal Products Carried by
5-Axles or More Trucks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
6.0 Analysis of the 5-Axles or More Truck Fleet by Percent of
VMT Hauling a Commodity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
6.1 Analysis Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
6.2 Observations on the Percent of VMT Hauling a
Commodity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.0 Analysis of Weights, Dimensions, and Operating
Characteristics for the 5-Axles or More Fleet. . . . . . .49
7.1 Analysis Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
7.2 Observations on Specific Truck Configurations and
Body Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
7.3 Review of Selected Truck Configurations/Body Types . 52
7.3.1 Review of 3 + 2 Truck + Trailer Combinations
- 1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
7.3.2 Review of 3-S2 Tractor-Semitrailer
Combinations - 1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
7.3.3 Review of 3-S3 Tractor-Semitrailer
Combinations - 1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
7.3.4 Review of 2-S1-2 Tractor + Double Trailer
Combinations - 1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
7.4 Summary of the Weight, Dimension and Operating
Characteristics by Truck Configuration/Body Type. . 60
7.5 Observations on Changes between 1987 and 1992 for
Particular Truck Configurations and Body Types . . .64
7.5.1 Changes in Trailer Widths by 1992. . . . . . .64
7.5.2 Changes in Truck Lengths by 1992 . . . . . . .68
7.5.3 Changes in Truck Weights . . . . . . . . . . .72
8.0 Analysis of Vehicle Miles of Travel of the 5-Axles or More
Truck Fleet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
8.1 Analysis Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
8.2 Average Annual VMT by Major Truck Configuration . . 85
8.3 Annual VMT by Major Truck Configuration by Body
Type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Appendix A Regional Distributions of The Total Truck Fleet
Appendix B Regional Distributions of The 5-Axles or More
Truck Fleet
Appendix C Detailed Body Type Analysis by the 5 Regions for
the 5-Axles or More Truck Fleet
Appendix D Major Body Type Analysis by the 5 Regions for the
5-Axles or More Truck Fleet
Appendix E Weights, Dimensions, and Operating Characteristics
Plots and Means for the 5-Axles or More Truck
Fleet
Appendix F Average Payload Weights and Maximum Payload
Weights for the 5-Axles or More Truck Fleet
Appendix G Regional Distributions of Weights, Dimensions, and
Operating Characteristics
Appendix H Data Analysis Methodology
Appendix I 1987 and 1992 TIUS Survey Questionnaires
