Canadian Vehicle Survey (CVS)

Summary of changes

Activity on this program started: February 1, 1999

Reference period of change - first quarter 2014

This is the final release of the Fuel Consumption Survey. The survey has been cancelled.

Reference period of change - 2013

The Fuel Consumption Survey (FCS) is conducted. The survey is a fully redesigned version of the former Canadian Vehicle Survey (CVS). While both surveys share similar objectives, one of the main differences is the introduction of an innovative new mode of collection, the engine data logger, which replaces the trip logs used for CVS. The use of this technology aims to reduce respondent burden and improve overall data quality.

Reference period of change - fourth quarter 2009

This is the final reference period for the Canadian Vehicle Survey as this survey has been discontinued.

Reference period of change - first quarter 2004

The following changes were made and may affect comparability with previous quarters:

Rather than estimates of the quantity of fuel purchased, the survey now produces estimates of the quantity of fuel consumed;

The light vehicle log is based on 20 trips rather than reporting all trips for 7 days. Depending on vehicle usage, some respondents will report more than 7 days worth of trips while others will report less than 7 days;

The definition of a trip for light vehicles has changed so that a new trip is now reported every time a driver gets in the vehicle or a passenger gets in or out of the vehicle. This change will mean that what was previously reported as one trip could now be reported as two, three or even more trips if there is a change in driver and/or multiple passengers are picked up or dropped off at different locations. This new definition will produce more accurate estimates of passenger-kilometres for light vehicles.

Target population - Beginning with the first quarter of 2004, buses are excluded from the survey.

Data sources - As of the first quarter 2004, there are two types of logs, instead of three.

Reference period of change - second quarter 2003

Beginning with Quarter 2, 2003, vehicles that were insured but not registered were removed from the registration lists for Manitoba. As a result, some estimates for Manitoba may be lower than the estimates from previous quarters.

Reference period of change - fourth quarter 2001

À partir du deuxième trimestre de 2003, des véhicules qui étaient assurés au Manitoba mais qui n'étaient pas enregistrés, ont été enlevés des listes d'immatriculation des véhicules du Manitoba. Pour cette raison, quelques estimations pour le Manitoba peuvent être plus basses que les trimestres précédents.

Reference period of change - first quarter 2001

Beginning with Quarter 1, 2001, the following changes were made and may affect comparability with previous quarters:

Prior to this quarter, duplicate records found within the same list and duplicate records found in more than one list were removed. Starting in this quarter, duplicate records were removed from within each list only. This change may cause some overcoverage and, consequently, overestimation.

Type of fuel used and body type are collected for the territories. Consequently, the four tables (pages: 28, 29, 34, 36) now include the territories.

The heavy vehicle logs were changed in 2001 in order to collect passenger information for heavy vehicles. This change means that passenger-kilometres are now estimated for all vehicles, except urban transit buses, for all the provinces (but not for territories).

The heavy vehicle logs were also changed in 2001 in order to collect distance traveled on roads with posted speeds of 80 kilometres per hour or more. This change means that this information is now estimated for all vehicle types in all provinces (but not for the territories).

Reference period of change - third quarter 2000

The following change was made in the third quarter of 2000 and may affect comparability with previous quarterly results:

Owners of buses and heavy vehicles registered in the territories are now sent two short questionnaires to record odometer readings at the start and end of the quarter. This process was always used for light vehicles in the territories and replaces the previous method of sending only one questionnaire at the end of the quarter and requesting that bus and heavy vehicle owners rely on maintenance records to provide odometer readings for the start of the quarter.

Reference period of change - first quarter 2000

The following changes were made in the first quarter of 2000 to improve the quality of the survey by diminishing non-sampling errors.

The changes that affect comparability with 1999 results:

The trip purpose choices (for all vehicle types) were changed. The purpose is now based on the destination of the trip. Thus the results from 2000 and 1999 are not comparable for this item.

Passenger-kilometers were not collected for heavy vehicles in 2000.

The changes that may affect comparability with the 1999 results:

A new log was developed for survey year 2000 for all heavy vehicles. In 1999 heavy vehicles with gross vehicle weights of 4.5 tonnes or more and less than 15 tonnes had a different log than heavy vehicles with gross vehicle weights of 15 tonnes or more.

The fuel purchased question was attached to each trip for the 2000 survey year for heavy vehicles. Previously it was recorded separately from the trips.