Formerly known as the Truck Inventory and Use Survey (TIUS) - The survey name was changed to account for areas of future expansion, including the addition of automobiles and buses. To measure the physical and operational characteristics of the Nation's truck
population. The United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this survey and provides
for mandatory responses.
Private and commercial trucks registered (or licensed) in the United States
as of July 1 of the survey year. The survey excludes vehicles owned by Federal,
state, or local governments; ambulances; buses; motor homes; farm tractors;
unpowered trailer units; and trucks reported to have been sold, junked, or wrecked
prior to July 1 of the year preceding the survey.
Data on physical characteristics include date of purchase, weight, number
of axles, overall length, type of engine, and body type. Operational characteristics
data include type of use, lease characteristics, operator classification, base
of operation, gas mileage, annual and lifetime miles driven, weeks operated,
commodities hauled by type, and hazardous materials carried. Less detailed physical
characteristics data are collected for pickups, vans, minivans, and sport utility
vehicles because they are relatively homogenous in design and use. Data collection begins in January following the census year and continues
for approximately 9 months. Reported data are for activity during the census
calendar year. Data is collected every 5 years since 1963, for years ending
in "2" and "7." A mail-out/mail-back survey of selected trucks; large truck owners receive
a standard form, and small truck owners (pickups, vans, minivans, and sport
utility vehicles) receive a short form. A stratified random sample of registered
trucks is selected from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Samples
are selected by state and stratified mainly by body type. Owners report data
only for the vehicles selected. The Geographic Area Series
consists of 52 data releases available on a flow basis from 10 to 22 months
after the census year, one for the United States, each state, and the District
of Columbia. All files are released on the Internet as PDF (portable document
format) files. The United States release is also available in hard copy. A microdata
CD-ROM, which is available about 26 months after the census year, contains unaggregated
records for individual trucks by state. The records are masked to avoid possible
disclosure of individual vehicles or owners. The Department of Transportation uses the data for analysis of cost allocation,
safety issues, proposed investments in new roads and technology, and user fees.
The Environmental Protection Agency uses the data to determine per mile vehicle
emission estimates, vehicle performance and fuel economy, and fuel conservation
practices of the trucking industry. The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the
data as a part of the framework for the national investment and personal consumption
expenditures component of the Gross Domestic Product. Tire manufacturers use the data to calculate the longevity of products and
to determine the usage, vocation, and applications of their products. Heavy
machinery manufacturers use the data to track the importance of various parts
distribution and service networks. Truck manufacturers use the data to determine
the impact of certain types of equipment on fuel efficiency. Provides the only source of statistics for trucks that identify physical and
operational characteristics.
EXPLORE INFORMATION CONTINUE OVERVIEW Last revised:
Friday, 22-Aug-2008 09:50:35 EDT
VEHICLE INVENTORY AND USE SURVEY (VIUS)
(discontinued after 2002)
PURPOSE
COVERAGE
CONTENT
FREQUENCY
METHODS
PRODUCTS
USES
SPECIAL FEATURES
RELATED PROGRAMS