Typical fuel economy by truck size
These are rough figures for a loaded truck on a mix of highway and town roads. Rental companies often quote “up to” numbers that assume an empty truck on a flat highway, so plan on the lower end.
| Truck | Typical MPG | Fuel |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 16 | Gas |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | Gas |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | Gas |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | Gas |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | Gas |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | Diesel |
Why moving trucks use so much fuel
A box truck is heavy before you load a single box, and its tall, flat front pushes a lot of air at highway speed. Add a full load of furniture, hills and a car trailer behind it and fuel economy can drop to single digits. A 1,000-mile move in a truck that gets 8 MPG burns about 125 gallons.
Check the fuel policy before you drive off
Most rental companies expect the truck back with the same amount of fuel it left with. If it comes back lower, they usually refuel it for you at a higher price per gallon than the pump. Take a photo of the fuel gauge when you pick the truck up, and fill up close to the drop-off location.
Ways to spend less on fuel during a move
- Rent the smallest truck that fits your things. Every extra foot adds weight and drag.
- Keep to moderate highway speeds. A boxy truck burns far more fuel at 70 mph than at 60.
- Load the heaviest items first, low and toward the cab.
- Compare prices before you fill up. On a 50-gallon fill-up, a 30-cent difference is $15.
- Turn the engine off while loading, unloading and waiting instead of idling.