This statistical survey of freight transportation is designed to correct some serious discrepancies in the French system of transport assessment. Up till now, extensive knowledge of systems from consignor to consignee has been lacking and the survey, therefore, furnishes physical descriptions of the chains surveyed (in the form of lines and nodes) together with organisational descriptions (with the branching organisation of system of subcontractors). Specific data on consignors and consignees provides better insights into the integration of transport facilities with a general economic framework. A major problem is that of linking the data collected from shippers, carriers and auxiliary operators to produce a coherent assessment of demand and supply. The survey, therefore, covers two populations - the shippers and their shipments. Data on shipments was not collected solely from shippers, since experience showed that the information they gave was not reliable after the goods were despatched. Telephone calls to carriers and auxiliaries proved reliable data on the transport chains. Respondents were asked only for details about their role in the operations, about their customers, and about their subcontracting procedures. The phone calls were made in the order in which subcontractors were employed.
Abstract