This report describes the main trends in road goods transport in great britain between 1973 and 1983 and, where possible, relates them to changes in the environment in which the industry operates. Data on goods movement, numbers of goods vehicles, vehicle utilisation and vehicle operating costs are examined. It is concluded that vehicle operators have responded to the economic recession in 1979 by laying-up vehicles, buying fewer new vehicles and reducing saturday working but that working vehicles were generally used as intensively in 1981 as in 1979. Early indications are that 5-axle articulated vehicles (up to 38 tonnes gross weight), introduced in may 1983, on average, operate on hauls which are 24 per cent longer at load factors which are 10 per cent higher than 4-axle articulated vehicles. (Author/publisher)
Abstract