A new report from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shows that the current state of the economy has left drivers feeling confident enough to set records, traveling 3.225 trillion total miles over the course of 2018.
The Traffic Volume Trends report, which chronicles monthly estimates of U.S. road travel, marked the highest figures on record, and the fifth year running over 3 trillion miles traveled. Passenger vehicle, bus and truck travel were all factored in, and likewise showed that the good news goes just beyond general travel.
Cargo and delivery service demand is also up. In December last year, the Freight Transportation Services Index — a measurement of the movement of freight and passengers — reached a 2.9 percent gain over its 2017 equivalent.
“Record-setting vehicle-miles traveled reflects a robust economy, lower gas prices and is another reason to ensure that America’s roads and bridges are well-maintained and modernized to improve safety,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said.
The 2018 figures represent a 12.2 billion mile gain over 2017 figures.