What Kind of Gas Mileage Does a Semi Truck Get?

Semi trucks are huge, powerful and have the ability to transport large loads of goods across the nation and even internationally. However, they also have huge fuel consumption levels and as a result can be expensive to run.

The fuel economy of a semi truck depends on many factors such as the type and size of the truck, its load capacity, the engine, the terrain it’s driving in and whether it’s loaded or not. On average, an unloaded semi truck driving on a flat road will get around 6-7 miles per gallon (MPG), while one that’s fully loaded can get around 4-5 MPG.

The MPG numbers for a semi truck can vary significantly depending on how it’s being driven. For example, if you drive your semi truck at a constant speed of 55 mph with light cargo in tow, you might be able to get around 8 MPG. But if you constantly accelerate heavily and brake harshly you can expect your fuel economy to suffer significantly.

Another factor that affects the gas mileage for a semi truck is the size of its engine. A larger engine will require more fuel to move its mass which means that it won’t be as fuel efficient as smaller engines. Additionally, if your semi truck has an old or poorly maintained engine then this could also affect its fuel economy as well.

Finally, driving conditions can have an impact on gas mileage too. If your route is hilly and windy then this will increase your overall fuel consumption compared to driving in flat open roads with minimal wind resistance.

Conclusion: In conclusion, what kind of gas mileage does a semi truck get depends on various factors such as the type and size of the vehicle, its load capacity, engine size and maintenance level along with driving habits and terrain conditions too. Generally speaking though, unloaded semi trucks can achieve up to 6-7 MPG while those that are fully loaded may get around 4-5 MPG or less depending on how they are driven or where they are travelling through.

Photo of author

Susan Delgado