Road freight statistics includes the domestic and international activity of UK-registered goods vehicles, activity of foreign-registered goods vehicles in Great Britain and road goods vehicles travelling to mainland Europe, and the activity of vans.
Publications
This is a report providing information on the biennial HGV Goods Compliance Check, which is carried out to determine the roadworthiness and traffic compliance of heavy goods vehicles and trailers travelling on the roads in Northern Ireland.
The publication contains data relating to vehicle registrations, public transport, petroleum deliveries to NI and driver and vehicle testing.
The publication contains data relating to vehicle registrations, driver and vehicle testing, road network, road freight, road safety, public transport, air transport and general transport statistics.
Annual publication bringing together statistics on the activity of both UK and non-UK registered heavy goods vehicles and GB-registered vans.
Quarterly publication bringing together statistics on the activity of both UK and non-UK registered heavy goods vehicles.
This Statistical Bulletin includes information on exports and imports carried and goods transported.
Bulletin giving quarterly statistics on the number of powered vehicles and unaccompanied trailers carried on each route to mainland Europe including Eurostar.
Bulletin giving annual statistics on the number of powered vehicles and unaccompanied trailers carried on each route to mainland Europe including Eurostar.
This gives the results of the survey of foreign road goods vehicles, HGVs, in Great Britain.
The publication contains data on trends in personal travel, how people travel, why people travel and other factors affecting travel.
Overview
Road freight statistics covers data relating to:
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the domestic activity of UK-registered goods vehicles
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the international activity of UK-registered goods vehicles
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the activity of foreign-registered goods vehicles in the UK
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the number and nationality of road goods vehicles travelling to mainland Europe
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the domestic activity of vans
Technical Data
Information is collected as follows:
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The domestic activity of UK-registered goods vehicles are produced from The Continuing Survey of Road Goods Transport (CSRGT). There are separate surveys for Great Britain and Northern Ireland registered goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight. Overall, the weekly activity of some 350 to 400 vehicles is sampled
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The international activity of UK-registered goods vehicles and the activity of foreign-registered goods vehicles in Great Britain are compiled from the following four sources:
The Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) enquiry
This survey is based on quarterly returns provided by roll-on/roll-off ferry operators, giving the number of powered vehicles and unaccompanied trailers carried on each route to mainland Europe
The International Road Haulage Survey (IRHS)
The IRHS covers international work undertaken by GB-registered powered goods vehicles travelling on roll-on/roll-off ferries or the Channel Tunnel. Hauliers operating internationally are asked to provide details of all trips leaving the UK on specified days.
The chosen days depend on haulier size (determined by the number of annual trips made) and vary in frequency. For example, from one day each month for big hauliers to 4 weeks' coverage every two years for the smallest hauliers, in all cases amounting to 1 day in 25.
The Continuing Survey of Road Goods Transport Northern Ireland (CSRGT NI)
The CSRGT NI is used to capture the international activity of Northern Ireland registered vehicles, in addition to their domestic activity
Eurostat
Eurostat collects data from EU member states (together with Norway and Liechtenstein) under the Council Regulation (EC) number 1172/87 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road. This provides data on the activity of foreign vehicles within the UK.
Road Goods Vehicles Travelling to Mainland Europe (Ro-Ro Survey)
Road goods vehicles travelling to mainland Europe statistics are compiled from returns provided by roll-on/roll-off ferry operators and by Eurotunnel on the total number of vehicles travelling from Great Britain to mainland Europe.
Glossary
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Average length of haul
Tonne kilometres divided by tonnes lifted.
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Average load
Tonne kilometres divided by loaded kilometres.
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Cabotage
The term cabotage refers to road transport within one country by a vehicle registered in another country.
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Goods lifted
Measured in tonnes.
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Goods moved
Measured in tonne kilometres, that is the weight lifted by the distance travelled. A weight of 20 tonnes carried 50 kilometres is 1000 tonnes kilometres.
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Gross vehicle weight
The maximum permissible weight of the vehicle and its load.
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Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV)
UK designation for a goods vehicle of over 3.5 tonnes maximum permissible gross vehicle weight.
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Hire or reward
Goods vehicle operators who carry goods for other people for hire or reward.
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Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV)
European designation for a goods vehicle of up to 3.5 tonnes, also often called vans or pickups.
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Light Good Vehicle (LGV)
Goods vehicles, mainly vans (including car derived vans), not over 3.5 tonnes maximum permissible gross vehicle weight.
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Own account
Goods vehicle operators who only carry goods in the course of their own trade or business.
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Plated weight
The same as gross vehicle weight. When goods vehicles are first registered, an official plate is issued showing the maximum permissible gross vehicle weight.
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Powered vehicles
Rigid vehicles, lorries with semi-trailers (articulated units) and lorries with drawbar trailers. Some vehicles under 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight are also included.
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Public haulage
Goods vehicle operators who carry goods for other people for hire or reward.
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Ro-Ro
Roll on-roll off. Usually used to refer to a ship which takes wheeled cargo which can be rolled on and rolled off.
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Tonne kilometres
A measure of freight moved which takes account of the weight of the load and the distance through which it is hauled. For example, a load of 26 tonnes carried a distance of 100 kilometres represents 2,600 tonne kilometres.
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Tonnes lifted
The quantity derived by adding together the weight of all the loads carried.
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Unaccompanied trailers
Trailers and semi-trailers not accompanied on the ferry (or other type of transport) by a powered unit.
Contact Details
For statistical enquiries about this topic, please contact:
Road Freight Statistics
Email: roadfreight.stats@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: + 44 (0) 20 7944 4261
Road Freight Statistics team, Statistics Roads and Freight Division, Department for Transport 3/28 Great Minster House 33 Horseferry Road London SW1P 4DR
