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U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Fact #705: December 12, 2011
Fuel Consumption Standards for Combination Tractors

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published a final rule setting fuel consumption standards for heavy trucks in September 2011. For tractor-trailers, the standards focus on the gallons of fuel per thousand ton-miles. Ton-miles are equal to the weight of a shipment transported multiplied by the distance hauled. Because differences in the tractors create differences in the fuel used, standards were set for varying roof height (low, mid, and high), gross vehicle weight rating (class 7 and 8), and types of tractor (day cab, sleeper cab).

Combination Tractor Fuel Consumption Standards, Model Years (MY) 2014-2017Graph showing fuel consumption standards for various combinations of heavy tractor-trailers for model years 2014-2017. For more detailed information, see supporting information below.

Note: The standards for 2014 and 2015 are voluntary.
Class 7 trucks have a gross vehicle weight rating between 26,000 and 33,000 lbs.
Class 8 trucks have a gross vehicle weight rating over 33,000 lbs.

Supporting Information

Combination Tractor Fuel Consumption Standards, 2014-2017
(Gallons of Fuel per Thousand Ton-Miles)
    Low Roof Mid Roof High Roof
  MY 2014-2016
Day Cab Class 7 10.5 11.7 12.2
Class 8 8.0 8.7 0.9
Sleeper Cab Class 8 6.7 7.4 7.3
  MY 2017
Day Cab Class 7 10.2 11.3 11.8
Class 8 7.8 8.4 8.7
Sleeper Cab Class 8 6.5 7.2 7.1

Note: In addition to these standards, there were also standards set for the engines installed in tractors.
Source: Federal Register, Vol. 76, No. 179, September 15, 2011, pp. 25324 - 25728.

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