Empty running of trucks in the UK has fallen to just over a quarter of all travelled mileage, down from a third of all travelled mileage in 1982. This reflects a significant increase in road freight efficiency over the 25-year period.
Department for Transport figures reveal that road freight accounts for 64% of all goods moved, compared with 53% in 1980. Goods moved by road now equals 163bn tonne-kilometres (t-km).
Rail freight has risen to 22bn t-km after a slight decline in the
mid-1990s. It now accounts for 9% of all goods moved.
The average payload per trip has increased by 13%, from 8.4 to 9.5 tonnes, despite a fall in total tonnage lifted, particularly bulk commodities. This move towards less dense commodities, eg food and electronics, has resulted in a decrease in lading factor - the ratio of goods moved to the maximum achievable tonne-kilometres - from 66% in 1982 to 57% in 2005.
The size of the UK LGV parc has remained relatively constant over the past 25 years, though its make-up has changed.
The number of artics over 37 tonnes has increased, while the number of artics under 37 tonnes has fallen significantly. Artics now account for 27% of vehicle stock.
UK annual international freight movement has increased by 77% from 1980 to 446 million tonnes in 2005. The majority of international freight movements go by water (96%) and the remainder through the Channel Tunnel or by air.
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