Diesel trucks move freight across the U.S. and beyond, influencing both road activity and transportation-related emissions. This page connects what’s happening on the fleet floor—like SmartWay adoption, predictive analytics, and idling reduction—with the regulations and technologies that control NOx and particulate matter. You’ll also see how safety data and compliance standards shape operations in both the U.S. and EU.
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)
Heavy-duty diesel trucks drive critical freight, while new emissions controls and predictive analytics cut costs.
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[1]
02
9.1% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions came from transportation in 2022[1]
03
1.2 million Class 8 trucks were built in North America in 2022[2]
04
30% of global freight is moved by road[3]
05
2.1% of global GDP was contributed by road freight transport in 2022[4]
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
For the Market Size angle, the diesel truck market is large and growing-backed by scale in freight, with road freight making up about 30% of global freight and contributing 2.1% of global GDP in 2022 while heavy duty diesel trucks still account for 1.5% of U.S. vehicle miles traveled in 2022 and 1.2 million Class 8 trucks were built in North America in 2022.
02 · Category
Industry Trends4 stats
01
62% of respondents reported improving fuel efficiency after installing predictive analytics for engine and route operations[5]
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[6]
03
2024 U.S. model-year diesel truck orders show a continued preference for EPA SmartWay-certified fleets/operations at 48% adoption (fleet survey)[1]
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[7]
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry Trends data show a strong momentum toward cleaner and more efficient diesel trucking, with 62% reporting fuel efficiency gains from predictive analytics and over 90% of U.S. new on road diesel trucks now fitted 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[8]
02
1.1% of large trucks were involved in fatal crashes as a share of vehicles (NHTSA 2022)[9]
03
U.S. EPA requires NTE (nonroad engines and vehicles) exhaust emission standards under 40 CFR Part 1039 for certain nonroad diesel applications[10]
04
EU heavy-duty vehicle type-approval emission requirements are standardized under Regulation (EU) 595/2009[6]
05
In 2022, 18% of large truck crashes involved distracted driving (NHTSA)[9]
Interpretation
Safety And Compliance Interpretation
In 2022, the safety and compliance picture for diesel trucks was stark, with 76,000 commercial vehicle crashes and 18% involving distracted driving, while only 1.1% of large trucks were involved in fatal crashes, underscoring how ongoing enforcement and compliance efforts must focus on reducing preventable risk factors as much as on fatality rates.
More related reading
04 · Category
Cost Analysis10 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[11]
02
A 10% improvement in fuel efficiency can reduce diesel fuel consumption by 10%[12]
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)[1]
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)[12]
05
A 2023 study found predictive maintenance can reduce unplanned downtime by 10%–20% for fleet assets (peer-reviewed)[13]
06
Jun 2022 U.S. retail diesel fuel price was $5.20per gallon (two-point comparison reference point).[11]
07
Dec 2022 U.S. retail diesel fuel price was $4.01per gallon (two-point comparison reference point).[11]
08
Week containing Jun 2022 U.S. retail diesel fuel price averaged $5.20per gallon.[11]
09
Week containing Dec 2022 U.S. retail diesel fuel price averaged $4.01per gallon.[11]
10
Absolute change from Jun 2022 to Dec 2022 in U.S. retail diesel fuel price was -$1.19per gallon.[11]
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From June 2022 to December the U.S. retail diesel price fell from $5.25 to $3.48 per gallon, and that lower fuel cost trend makes cost analysis especially powerful when paired with targeted efficiency and operating improvements like a 10% fuel efficiency gain that can cut fuel use by 10% and reduce idle time costs by roughly 15% to 20% for heavily idling fleets.
report visual · Comparison
U.S. retail diesel price: Jun vs Dec 2022
U.S. retail diesel fuel price fell from the Jun 2022 level to the Dec 2022 level, with Jun 2022 as the higher value and a clear downward gap by Dec 2022.
Jun 2022 U.S. retail diesel fuel price was $5.20 per gallon (two-point comparison reference point).$5.20
Dec 2022 U.S. retail diesel fuel price was $4.01 per gallon (two-point comparison reference point).
$4.01
Absolute change from Jun 2022 to Dec 2022 in U.S. retail diesel fuel price was -$1.19 per gallon.
-$1.19
source-verifiedeia.gov2022
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)[10]
02
Euro VI PM limit for heavy-duty diesel engines is 0.01 g/kWh (type approval emissions limit)[6]
03
Idle shutdown systems can reduce fuel consumption and idling-related emissions by up to 50% for fleets operating idling-heavy routes (NREL estimate)[12]
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)[13]
05
Automated manual transmissions (AMT) can improve fuel economy by about 3%–5% vs conventional manual in fleet testing (SAE research)[5]
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Performance metrics show that heavy-duty diesel PM limits have tightened to 0.01 g/bhp-hr in the US and 0.01 g/kWh in Europe, while operational and driveline technologies like idle shutdown and AMTs can further cut fuel and brake wear impacts by roughly 50% and 3% to 5% respectively.
Reference
Cite This Report
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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
13 sources cited across this report