Road Freight Statistics Report Published by DfT
The latest data published by the Department of Transport highlights an increase in several regards in respect of the UK Freight Industry. The ‘Road Freight Statistics 2006’ report was issued at the end of September, and depicts an industry where more freight is being transported on larger vehicles, and to destinations further away than before.
Specifically, articulated vehicles in the over-33 tonne class are now responsible for 72 per cent of all cargo transported – nearly a one per cent/year increase since 1996. In terms of the journey, 27 years ago, it averaged 68 kilometres. Today, 86 kilometres is the comparable figure, although the report emphasises that this has changed little over the past decade.
Haulage growth is moving at a far slower pace than GDP (Gross Domestic Product). In the last ten years, the total cargo moved has increased by six per cent, while, in the same period, GDP has gone up 32 per cent. In the period 2005-2006, cargo carried by vehicles registered for use and driven in the UK increased by two per cent to stand at 155.8 billion tonne kilometres.
On the international scale, in total, 2.86 million freight vehicles journeyed to mainland Europe last year – a three per cent increase over 2005, and a 74 per cent increase than a decade earlier.
In terms of these 2.86 million vehicles’ origins, 525,000 were registered to the UK – a one per cent rise on the previous year. Additionally, 367,000 were French, 258,000 Dutch and 187,000 German.
From less-well established countries within Freight, 73,000 vehicles were Polish registered, and 45,000 each came from Hungary and the Czech Republic.
As of December 2006, 446,000 goods vehicle weighing over 3.5 tonnes were registered in this country, of which 73 per cent were rigids.
In the period 1996 to 2006, a 39 per cent drop in fatal accidents, or those causing serious injury, was observed.
Source – Freight International’s Assistant Editor
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