In 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported 76,000 commercial vehicle crashes in the U.S. Heavy-duty diesel fleets are also shifting operations. A fleet survey found 48% adoption of EPA SmartWay-certified fleets in U.S. diesel truck orders for the 2024 model year. Road freight still drives the underlying demand, since it moves 30% of global freight. The emissions and fuel impact then depends on how vehicles run, including diesel particulate filters, predictive analytics, and idle shutdown systems.
Key Takeaways
- 1.5% of all U.S. vehicle miles traveled were heavy-duty diesel truck VMT in 2022
- 9.1% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions came from transportation in 2022
- 1.2 million Class 8 trucks were built in North America in 2022
- 62% of respondents reported improving fuel efficiency after installing predictive analytics for engine and route operations
- 5.3% of all new truck sales in the EU were subject to CO2 emission reduction targets under Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 for heavy-duty vehicles
- 2024 U.S. model-year diesel truck orders show a continued preference for EPA SmartWay-certified fleets/operations at 48% adoption (fleet survey)
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported 76,000 commercial vehicle crashes in 2022
- 1.1% of large trucks were involved in fatal crashes as a share of vehicles (NHTSA 2022)
- U.S. EPA requires NTE (nonroad engines and vehicles) exhaust emission standards under 40 CFR Part 1039 for certain nonroad diesel applications
- The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported retail diesel fuel prices declined from $5.25/gal in Jun 2022 to $3.48/gal in Dec 2022
- A 10% improvement in fuel efficiency can reduce diesel fuel consumption by 10%
- EPA estimated NOx and PM control costs for 2010 heavy-duty diesel engines in the U.S. in a regulatory impact analysis (2010–2017 compliance timeframe)
- U.S. EPA 2010 heavy-duty diesel PM standard is 0.01 g/bhp-hr for engines (40 CFR Part 86/1036)
- Euro VI PM limit for heavy-duty diesel engines is 0.01 g/kWh (type approval emissions limit)
- Idle shutdown systems can reduce fuel consumption and idling-related emissions by up to 50% for fleets operating idling-heavy routes (NREL estimate)
In 2022, heavy-duty diesel trucks shaped emissions and safety, while fuel-saving technologies boosted efficiency and compliance.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size5 stats
01
1.5% of all U.S. vehicle miles traveled were heavy-duty diesel truck VMT in 2022
02
9.1% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions came from transportation in 2022
03
1.2 million Class 8 trucks were built in North America in 2022
04
30% of global freight is moved by road
05
2.1% of global GDP was contributed by road freight transport in 2022
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
In 2022, heavy duty diesel trucks represented just 1.5% of U.S. vehicle miles traveled yet accounted for a significant share of the transportation footprint within the larger market context, while road freight drove 30% of global freight and contributed 2.1% of global GDP, underscoring how a relatively small slice of miles translates into a very large freight market.
02 · Category
Industry Trends4 stats
01
62% of respondents reported improving fuel efficiency after installing predictive analytics for engine and route operations
02
5.3% of all new truck sales in the EU were subject to CO2 emission reduction targets under Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 for heavy-duty vehicles
03
2024 U.S. model-year diesel truck orders show a continued preference for EPA SmartWay-certified fleets/operations at 48% adoption (fleet survey)
04
Over 90% of new on-road diesel trucks sold in the U.S. are equipped with diesel particulate filters (DPFs) to meet emissions standards
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Across Industry Trends in diesel trucking, predictive analytics are driving measurable gains with 62% of respondents reporting improved fuel efficiency, while U.S. adoption of cleaner operations continues to rise with 48% of 2024 fleet orders favoring EPA SmartWay certified fleets and over 90% of new on road trucks equipped with diesel particulate filters.
03 · Category
Safety And Compliance5 stats
01
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported 76,000 commercial vehicle crashes in 2022
02
1.1% of large trucks were involved in fatal crashes as a share of vehicles (NHTSA 2022)
03
U.S. EPA requires NTE (nonroad engines and vehicles) exhaust emission standards under 40 CFR Part 1039 for certain nonroad diesel applications
04
EU heavy-duty vehicle type-approval emission requirements are standardized under Regulation (EU) 595/2009
05
In 2022, 18% of large truck crashes involved distracted driving (NHTSA)
Interpretation
Safety And Compliance Interpretation
With 76,000 commercial vehicle crashes in 2022 and 18% of large truck crashes tied to distracted driving alongside NHTSA’s 1.1% fatal-crash involvement rate for large trucks, safety pressures are clearly still driving the need for strong compliance across both U.S. and EU diesel regulations.
More related reading
04 · Category
Cost Analysis5 stats
01
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported retail diesel fuel prices declined from $5.25/gal in Jun 2022 to $3.48/gal in Dec 2022
02
A 10% improvement in fuel efficiency can reduce diesel fuel consumption by 10%
03
EPA estimated NOx and PM control costs for 2010 heavy-duty diesel engines in the U.S. in a regulatory impact analysis (2010–2017 compliance timeframe)
04
2019–2022 reduction in U.S. idle time cost at a benchmark 15–20% of total fuel use for fleets that idle extensively (NREL analysis)
05
A 2023 study found predictive maintenance can reduce unplanned downtime by 10%–20% for fleet assets (peer-reviewed)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Cost pressures in the diesel truck industry eased in late 2022 as retail diesel prices fell from $5.25 per gallon in June to $3.48 per gallon in December while efficiency and operational upgrades could further cut fuel and downtime costs, including a 10% fuel efficiency gain lowering consumption by 10% and predictive maintenance reducing unplanned downtime by 10% to 20%.
05 · Category
Performance Metrics5 stats
01
U.S. EPA 2010 heavy-duty diesel PM standard is 0.01 g/bhp-hr for engines (40 CFR Part 86/1036)
02
Euro VI PM limit for heavy-duty diesel engines is 0.01 g/kWh (type approval emissions limit)
03
Idle shutdown systems can reduce fuel consumption and idling-related emissions by up to 50% for fleets operating idling-heavy routes (NREL estimate)
04
Engine brake (compression release) usage can reduce service brake wear rates significantly; studies report up to ~50% reduction in brake lining wear (peer-reviewed)
05
Automated manual transmissions (AMT) can improve fuel economy by about 3%–5% vs conventional manual in fleet testing (SAE research)
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Across key Performance Metrics, heavy-duty diesel is held to extremely low particulate limits of 0.01 g/bhp-hr in the US and 0.01 g/kWh in Europe while operational technologies like idle shutdowns cutting idling fuel and emissions by up to 50% and AMTs boosting fuel economy by about 3% to 5% show that measurable gains increasingly come from both regulatory standards and fleet performance choices.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Diesel Truck Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diesel-truck-industry-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Diesel Truck Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diesel-truck-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Diesel Truck Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diesel-truck-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
24 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+11 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)