Auto Transport Fuel Consumption & Emissions Statistics (2025)

The U.S. auto transport industry consumes billions of gallons of fuel every year, primarily diesel — to move freight across the country. Despite advances in fuel efficiency, heavy-duty trucks remain one of the most energy-intensive segments of road transportation.

Here’s a roundup of the most relevant and up-to-date fuel usage statistics in the U.S. auto transport sector:

Fuel Use in the Auto Transport Industry

• Commercial trucks in the U.S. consumed 46 billion gallons of fuel in 2019 — up 3% from 2016 (EIA.gov).
• In 2022, freight trucks traveled a total of 331.3 billion miles, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
• Truck mileage rose 22% over the past decade, while fuel consumption only grew 7%, thanks to efficiency gains.

• Heavy-duty Class 8 trucks average around 6.2 MPG, while medium-duty trucks reach about 7.6 MPG (EPA SmartWay).
• A typical long-haul truck consumes nearly 10,000 gallons of diesel per year, based on national average usage estimates.
• Diesel remains dominant, accounting for over 70% of heavy truck fuel use (U.S. Department of Transportation).

Here’s a visual breakdown of fuel types used across the U.S. trucking industry:

• Gasoline is still used in lighter, local fleet vehicles — but rarely in long-haul operations.
• Electric and alt-fuel trucks account for just 3.4% of total fleet share, despite growing interest in emissions reduction.

Diesel vs Gasoline by Carrier Type

• 97% of U.S. trucking companies operate with 20 or fewer trucks (American Trucking Associations).
• Diesel engines offer 30–35% better fuel economy than gasoline, making them the go-to for high-mileage hauls.
• Gas-powered trucks are typically used for under 25,000 miles/year, where diesel’s ROI is limited.
• Small fleets often choose gasoline trucks for lower purchase costs — especially in short-haul, last-mile roles.
• Large carriers rely on diesel for long-distance efficiency and torque.
• Fuel price sensitivity is higher among small operators who lack fuel contracts or surcharge protections.
• As of 2022, only 8.2% of fleets had even one alternative-fuel Class 8 truck, according to fleet trend reports.

Use of biodiesel and renewable diesel has grown from 100M gallons in 2005 to over 4B gallons in 2023, backed by EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standards.

The chart below shows just how quickly bio-based diesel fuels have scaled in the U.S. over the past two decades:

Emissions Per Car Transported in the U.S. (2025)

The environmental cost of moving cars cross-country is often overlooked, but it adds up fast. From diesel tailpipes to renewable fleets, here's what the data says about the carbon footprint of vehicle shipping in the U.S.

🚛 CO₂ Output Per Vehicle Moved

• The average diesel truck emits 1,000–1,500 lbs of CO₂ to ship a single car cross-country.
• U.S. Class 8 trucks average ~161.8 grams of CO₂ per ton-mile, or about 240g per mile per car (EPA, FHWA).
• A long-haul diesel car hauler burns nearly 10,000 gallons of fuel per year.

Electric vs Diesel: Emission Battle

• Battery-electric trucks emit 38% less GHG than diesel on today’s energy grid.

• With 100% renewable power, that drops emissions up to 86% lower (EESI study).
• Hybrids and SmartWay diesel systems can reduce emissions 10–20% via better aerodynamics, idle controls, and routing.

Cutting Emissions Without New Trucks

• Using SmartWay-certified carriers can reduce emissions ~6% on average per vehicle shipped.
• Just filling up the trailer better (load optimization) = less CO₂ per vehicle.
• Biodiesel and renewable diesel slash GHGs 68–75% compared to regular diesel — and work in current engines.

Rise of Electric Auto Transport Carriers (2025 Outlook)

EVs aren’t just being shipped — they’re doing the shipping. The electric truck revolution is picking up speed in the U.S., even if diesel still dominates for now.

Electric Truck Fleets Are Exploding

• In 2020: just a few hundred electric trucks on U.S. roads.
• End of 2023: 12,894 electric trucks active.
• End of 2024: projected ~29,000+ — more than 100% growth in a single year.

Still Just a Tiny Slice of the Market

• U.S. has 12.2 million trucks — fewer than 0.3% are electric.
• Even with 25,000 to 30,000 EV trucks projected by the end of 2024, they’ll still make up less than 0.3% of all Class 2b–8 trucks.

• Diesel still dominates over 99.7% of auto transport.
• Huge room for growth as EV infrastructure scales.

Federal + State Incentives Powering the Shift

• Up to $40,000 federal credit per new EV truck under the Inflation Reduction Act.
• $1 billion in grants for clean heavy-duty fleets.
• California’s ZEV rule pushing for 100% clean truck sales by 2045 (adopted by 5 other states).
• Local help via EPA DERA + DOE Clean Cities.

Major Fleets Are Leading by Example

• Tesla Semi deliveries (300–500 mile range) have begun.
• Amazon, PepsiCo, Walmart among early adopters.
• 331 U.S. fleets now use electric medium/heavy-duty trucks — 127 started just in 2024.
• UPS, FedEx, Freightliner, Volvo, BrightDrop all testing clean long-haul solutions.

How Much of Car Shipping Costs Go to Fuel?

Fuel isn’t just a line item — it’s one of the biggest cost drivers in auto transport. Here's what fuel really costs carriers in 2025:

Fuel = 20–30% of Total Auto Transport Costs

• In 2022, fuel accounted for 28% of total carrier operating costs, up from 22% in 2021 (ATRI).

• The typical range is 20–30%, depending on diesel prices and fleet efficiency.
• In low-price years like 2020, fuel’s share dipped to ~19% (EIA, FMCSA).

Long-Haul Burns the Budget Faster

• Long-distance hauls spend a greater % on fuel, since they rack up 400–600 miles/day.

• Short-haul trips burn less fuel overall — but driver wages and delays eat up more.
• On average, short routes cost more per mile, but less of that is fuel.

Big Fleets Get the Best Fuel Rates

• Large fleets spent ~$0.61/mile on fuel, vs. $0.72/mile for small fleets (2022 data).
• Bulk buying + fuel surcharges give larger carriers a competitive edge.
• Small carriers often absorb fuel hikes — making them less insulated during price spikes.

Equipment and MPG Matter

• A car hauler running 5 MPG burns 40% more fuel per mile than one at 7 MPG.
• Modern aero kits, auto tire inflation, and idle controls can cut fuel costs by up to 20%.
• Switching to biodiesel, renewable diesel, or CNG also trims fuel’s slice of the pie.

Carbon Emission Policies by State (2025)

From coast to coast, auto carriers face a patchwork of emissions rules. Here's where the cleanest — and strictest — mandates are rolling out.

California: The Emissions Boss

• Since Jan 2023, diesel trucks with pre-2010 engines are banned from California roads (CARB).
• Only ZEVs can be newly registered in CA drayage fleets.
• All drayage trucks must be zero-emission by 2035 — with stricter rules every year.

ZEV Mandates Spreading Nationwide

• As of 2025, California’s ACT Rule requires 30–50% of all new trucks to be zero-emission by 2030.
• At least 11 states have adopted or committed to similar laws: NY, NJ, WA, MA, MD, OR, and more (Clean Air Act §177 states).

• Many aim for 100% zero-emission new sales by 2045.

Emission Rules = Real Dollars

• Regions like California and Oregon enforce Low Carbon Fuel Standards, driving diesel prices higher.
• NYC’s congestion pricing and California’s clean fuel programs act as indirect carbon taxes.
• Carriers reroute or avoid these zones to cut compliance costs.

Smaller Fleets Pull Back From Strict Zones

• Many small transporters avoid operating in California due to equipment upgrade costs.
• Large fleets are testing EVs and hydrogen rigs to stay compliant.
• Truck manufacturers are ramping up ZEV inventory for states with sales mandates.

Regional Fuel Use: Terrain, Traffic & Taxes

Not all fuel burns equally. Geography, diesel prices, and traffic shape where and how efficiently fuel gets used in auto transport.

Hills Kill MPG

• Trucks average just 4.5–5.0 MPG in mountainous states (e.g., CO, WA, ID).

• In flat states like IL, KS, or TX, that jumps to 6.3+ MPG.
• Climbing grades = more downshifting, idling, and fuel burn.

City Driving Wrecks Fuel Efficiency

• Heavy urban routes = stop-start traffic, 3–4 MPG on average.
• Long-haul open highway? Often 6–7 MPG.
• That’s why urban zones (Northeast, LA, Chicago) are more fuel-intensive per mile than Midwest long-haul routes.

Fuel Prices Vary Wildly

• West Coast = most expensive diesel. CA was $4.40/gal in mid-2023.
  
  

• Gulf Coast (TX, LA): $3.50/gal, a $0.90/gal advantage.
• Carriers plan refuels across state lines to dodge high-tax zones (FMCSA, EIA).

Clean Fuel Adoption Is Regional

• 12.8% of fleets now use alt-fuels — mostly CNG, renewable diesel, and some EVs.

• Electric truck trials are booming in CA, NJ, NY, and around port cities.
• Texas and Oklahoma lead in CNG adoption due to strong infrastructure.
  
  

Key Takeaways on Auto Transport Fuel & Emissions (2025)

• Diesel still rules — but fuel costs now eat up 1/4 of shipping expenses, and diesel prices vary wildly by region.
• Geography matters: Mountain states kill fuel economy, while flat states help carriers save big.
• Emission rules are tightening fast, especially in California and the Northeast, and small fleets are feeling the heat.
• ZEV adoption is slow but growing, with mandates kicking in across 11+ states and pressure rising for fleet electrification.

Whether you're managing a fleet or booking a single shipment, these trends shape where costs go, who can compete, and how fast the industry must evolve.

Want more deep-dive stats like this? Stay tuned — we’ve got more data-rich breakdowns on the way.