Bigger trucks taking more freight further
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UK operators are moving more freight on larger vehicles over longer
distances. David Harris reports.
UK HAULIERS ARE carrying more freight on bigger trucks and they are carrying it further on average, according to the Department for Transport (Df1').
Road Freight Statistics 2006, which the DfT published last week, shows that artics running at more than 33 tonnes now account for 72% of all freight carried, compared with 63°/0 in 1996.
There has also been a long-term increase in the average length of journey, from 68km in 1980 to 86km in 2006, although there has been relatively little change in this figure since 1995.
Haulage is growing far less quickly than gross domestic product (GDP). Since 1996 the total freight moved has risen by 6%, while GDP has risen by 32%. Between 2005 and 2006 freight moved by GB-registered vehicles on the British mainland went up by 2%, from 152.7bn tonnekilometres to 155.8bn.
Internationally the total number of freight vehicles of all nationalities travelling10 the Continent was 2.86 million in 2006; up 3% on 2005 and up 74% on 1996.
In 2006525,000 of these vehicles were UK-registered; 1 To up on 2005 and 1% down on 1996.French (367,000). Dutch (258,000) and German (187,000) trucks were the most frequent visitors.
The number of freight vehicles from new EU member states continued to increase. In 2006 they included 73,000 from Poland, 45.000 from the Czech Republic and 45,000 from Hungary