The paper estimates and analyses the change in energy use and energy intensity in passenger and freight transport in Italy over the period 1975-91. The estimate is carried out at a modal level. It is found that the dynamics that have taken place in passenger and freight transport are quite similar. The enormous increase in energy use is due mainly to the increase in transport volumes and to the shift towards more energy intensive modes. By contrast, aggregate and modal energy intensities have decreased. In passenger transport the main efficiency gains took place in the most energy intensive modes. This does not hold true for freight transport.