U.S. Transformational Trucking Environment and Efficiency in Freight Mobility

The report argues that while the technology to double trucking efficiency already exists, adoption is hindered by a fragmented industry structure, a lack of trust in efficiency data, and regulatory constraints. It highlights that Class 7 and 8 heavy-duty trucks are the primary targets for improvement, as they account for nearly 80 percent of truck fuel consumption despite representing less than half of the total truck population. The document maps the complex stakeholder ecosystem—including OEMs, mega-fleets, and regulatory bodies like the EPA and DOE—and emphasizes that systemic improvements require collaboration across the entire value chain, from design and manufacturing to operations and infrastructure.

• Class 7 and 8 heavy-duty trucks represent a significant opportunity for fuel efficiency gains because they account for almost 80 percent of all truck fuel consumption, even though they make up less than half of the total number of trucks in the U.S.
• The U.S. trucking industry is highly fragmented, with the top fifty companies representing only 30 percent of the market, which contributes to system-wide inefficiencies such as empty backhauls and a reluctance among operators to invest in efficiency improvements.
• Technological capacity to double trucking efficiency is already available, but adoption is blocked by cultural barriers, a lack of trust in projected payback and efficiency data, and regulations that have discouraged the use of high productivity vehicles (HPVs).
• Infrastructure and government funding decisions directly impact fuel efficiency; for example, a $5 million USDOT-funded study by Indiana DOT on dedicated truck-only lanes on Interstate 70 is expected to encourage the use of more fuel-efficient vehicle combinations.

APA

Sahl, A. B., Simpson, M. B., & Kawai, H. (n.d.). U.S. Transformational Trucking Environment and Efficiency in Freight Mobility. RMI. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_2009-19_USTransformationalTrucking.pdf

Chicago

Sahl, Amanda B., Mike B. Simpson, and Hiroko Kawai. U.S. Transformational Trucking Environment and Efficiency in Freight Mobility. RMI, n.d. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_2009-19_USTransformationalTrucking.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sahl |first1=Amanda B. |last2=Simpson |first2=Mike B. |last3=Kawai |first3=Hiroko |title=U.S. Transformational Trucking Environment and Efficiency in Freight Mobility |publisher=RMI |url=https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_2009-19_USTransformationalTrucking.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sahlndtransformational, author = {Sahl, Amanda B. and Simpson, Mike B. and Kawai, Hiroko}, title = {{U.S. Transformational Trucking Environment and Efficiency in Freight Mobility}}, institution = {RMI}, url = {https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_2009-19_USTransformationalTrucking.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }