Chapter 03 - Road Freight

1. Introduction

1.1 This chapter provides information about road freight lifted by UK-registered heavy goods vehicles (HGVs: over 3.5 tonnes gross weight), such as the weight of goods lifted in Scotland by origin and destination, the lengths of haul, the destinations within the UK and Europe, and the types of commodity lifted.

1.2 Following a methodology change from paper to online data collection, it has been concluded that road goods data before and after July to September 2021 (quarter 3) should not be compared. Data is presented as a 12 month figure for the period ending June 2022. For more details on the methodology change and results from an investigation, please see Domestic road freight statistics: Methodology note - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

2. Main Points

Good Lifted and Distance

2.1 In the 12 month period ending June 2022, an estimated 138 million tonnes of goods were lifted within Scotland by UK HGVs and transported to destinations within Scotland. About 17 million tonnes of goods from Scotland were delivered to destinations elsewhere in the UK, and around 21 million tonnes were brought into Scotland from elsewhere in the UK. In comparison, the volume of international road freight by UK HGVs travelling to and from Scotland is very small: less than 1 million tonnes in 2021. (Table 3.1a and 3.1b)

2.2 Most road freight journeys are 100 kilometres or less in length: 17% of tonnes lifted by road in Scotland in 2021 were carried a distance of no more than 25 kilometres, and 25% travelled over 50 km but no more than 100 km. The average journey distance, which is calculated by dividing the total tonne-kilometres by the total tonnes lifted, was 112 km. (Table 3.2)

Originating in Scotland

2.3 Goods moved on journeys originating in Scotland with a destination in Scotland accounted for around 11.5 billion tonne-kilometres in 2021. The overall total, including journeys with destinations elsewhere in the UK and abroad, was around 17.7 billion tonne-kms. (Table 3.3a)

Entering Scotland

2.4 In 2021, 20.7 million tonnes of goods entered Scotland on UK HGVs from the rest of the UK. 98% of these came from England. Around 69 per cent of the goods entering came from the North West (35%), Yorkshire and Humber (20%) and North East (14%) regions of England. Fewer goods leave Scotland for other UK countries (17 million tonnes) than enter from them but the proportions going to and coming from different areas are similar (Table 3.6).

2.5 In 2021, 'food products including beverages and tobacco' was the largest single category of goods lifted in Scotland, which remained in Scotland, accounting for 17.4 million tonnes out of the total of 138.4 million tonnes. (Table 3.4)

Destination

2.6 In 2021, UK-registered HGVs carried an estimated 217 thousand tonnes of goods from Scotland to countries outwith the UK, and 127 thousand tonnes from foreign countries into Scotland. Of goods leaving Scotland for abroad, carried by UK road hauliers, 58% went to France and 11% to the Germany. (Table 3.7)

2.7 In 2021, around 5% of goods leaving the UK lifted by UK HGVs originated in Scotland. (Table 3.5)

Notes

This worksheet contains one table.

note 1

Following a methodology change from paper to online data collection, it has been concluded that road goods data before and after July to September 2021 (quarter 3) should not be compared. Data is presented as a 12 month figure for the period ending June 2022. For more details on the methodology change and results from an investigation, please see here.

note 2

These figures include an element of doublecounting as figures include both the domestic and international legs of the journey.

note 3

These figures include goods lifted by Northern Irish-based HGVs, so are slightly higher than those appearing in DfT's Road Freight Statisics.

note 4

GDP figures are available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/about-gdp/

Table 3.1a: Goods lifted by UK HGVs on journeys originating in Scotland in tonnes, by destination. This worksheet contains one table. Some cells refer to notes which can be found in the notes worksheet. Source: Department for Transport (DfT)
Year	Scotland (million tonnes)	England (million tonnes)	Wales (million tonnes)	Northern Ireland (million tonnes)	Total UK outwith Scotland (million tonnes)	Outwith UK (million tonnes) [note1]	Total (million tonnes)
Quarter 3 2021 to Quarter 2 2022 [note1]	138.4	16.5	[sample too small]	0.5	17.1	0.3	155.7

Table 3.1b: Goods lifted by UK HGVs on journeys with destinations in Scotland in tonnes, by origin. This worksheet contains one table. Some cells refer to notes which can be found in the notes worksheet. Source: Department for Transport (DfT)
Year	Scotland (million tonnes)	England (million tonnes)	Wales (million tonnes)	Northern Ireland (million tonnes)	Total UK outwith Scotland (million tonnes)	Outwith UK (million tonnes) [note1]	Total (million tonnes)
Quarter 3 2021 to Quarter 2 2022 [note1]	138.4	20.2	[sample too small]	0.3	20.7	0.2	159.2

Table 3.2: Goods lifted by UK HGVs in Scotland, with destinations within the UK, by length of haul, for the 12 month period ending June 2022 [note 1]. This worksheet contains one table. Some cells refer to notes which can be found in the notes worksheet. Source: Department for Transport (DfT)
Length of haul (kilometres)	Tonnes (millions)	Tonnes (percentages)	Tonne-kilometres (millions)	Tonne-kilometres (percentages)
0 to 25	26	17	365	2
26 to 50	35.3	23	1,309	8
51 to 100	38.8	25	2,712	16
101 to 150	19.6	13	2,424	14
151 to 200	9.7	6	1,699	10
201 to 300	13	8	3,266	19
301 to 400	7.1	5	2,399	14
401 to 500	3.1	2	1,421	8
over 500	2.9	2	1,781	10
All	155.5	100	17,376	100

Table 3a: Goods lifted by UK HGVs on journeys originating in Scotland in tonne-kilometres, by destination. This worksheet contains one table. Some cells refer to notes which can be found in the notes worksheet. Source: Department for Transport (DfT)
Year	Scotland (million tonne-kilometres)	England (million tonne-kilometres)	Wales (million tonne-kilometres)	Northern Ireland (million tonne-kilometres)	Total UK outwith Scotland (million tonne-kilometres)	Outwith UK (million tonne-kilometres) [note1]	Total (million tonne-kilometres)	Total (index; 2011 = 100)	Scottish GDP (Gross Value Added for all industries) (index, 2011 = 100)	Road freight intensity (index, 2011 = 100)	Scottish GDP (Gross Value Added for all industries) (index, 2018 = 100)
Quarter 3 2021 to Quarter 2 2022 [note1]	11,522	5,635	[sample too small]	169	5,854	307	17,683	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]

Table 3b: Goods lifted by UK HGVs on journeys with destinations in Scotland in tonne-kilometres, by origin. This worksheet contains one table. Some cells refer to notes which can be found in the notes worksheet. Source: Department for Transport (DfT)
Year	Scotland (million tonne-kilometres)	England (million tonne-kilometres)	Wales (million tonne-kilometres)	Northern Ireland (million tonne-kilometres)	Total UK outwith Scotland (million tonne-kilometres)	Outwith UK (million tonne-kilometres) [note1]	Total (million tonne-kilometres)
Quarter 3 2021 to Quarter 2 2022 [note1]	11,522	7,329	[sample too small]	97	7,509	150	19,181

Table 3.3c: Road freight intensity index of the Scottish Economy. This worksheet contains one table. Some cells refer to notes which can be found in the notes worksheet. Source: Department for Transport (DfT)
Year	Road freight moved by UK HGVs on journeys originating in Scotland (million tonne-kilometres)	Road freight moved by UK HGVs on journeys originating in Scotland (index; 2011 = 100)	Road freight moved by UK HGVs on journeys originating in Scotland (index; 2018 = 100)	Scottish GDP (Gross Value Added for all industries) (index, 2018 = 100) [note4]	Scottish GDP (Gross Value Added for all industries) (index, 2011 = 100) [note4]	Road freight intensity (index, 2011 = 100)	Road freight intensity (index, 2018 = 100)
Quarter 3 2021 to Quarter 2 2022 [note1]	17,683	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]

Table 3.3d: Road freight intensity index of the Scottish Economy. This worksheet contains one table. Some cells refer to notes which can be found in the notes worksheet. Source: Department for Transport (DfT)
Year	Road freight moved by UK HGVs on journeys originating in Scotland (million tonne-kilometres)	Road freight moved by UK HGVs on journeys originating in Scotland (index; 2011 = 100)	Scottish GDP (Gross Value Added for all industries) (index, 2011 = 100) [note4]	Road freight intensity (index, 2011 = 100)
Quarter 3 2021 to Quarter 2 2022 [note1]	17,683	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]

Table 3.4: Goods lifted or moved by UK HGVs, for journeys within the UK with a Scottish origin or destination, by commodity, for the 12 month period ending June 2022 [note 1]. This worksheet contains one table. Some cells refer to notes which can be found in the notes worksheet. Source: Department for Transport (DfT)
Commodity	Goods remaining in Scotland (thousand tonnes) [note 3]	Goods entering Scotland from rest of the UK (thousand tonnes) [note 3]	Goods leaving Scotland for rest of UK (thousand tonnes) [note 3]	Goods remaining in Scotland (million tonne-kilometres) [note 3]	Goods entering Scotland from rest of the UK (million tonne-kilometres) [note 3]	Goods leaving Scotland for rest of UK (million tonne-kilometres) [note 3]
Products of agriculture, forestry, raw materials (subtotal)	34,594	1,510	2,979	2,574	557	952
Agricultural products	8,735	872	2,344	1,086	326	737
Coal and lignite	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Metal ore and other mining and quarrying	25,798	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	1,482	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Food products, including beverages and tobacco (subtotal)	17,355	5,978	3,379	2,076	2,144	1,157
Textile, leather and wood products (subtotal)	8,251	1,326	1,872	769	623	713
Textiles and textile products; leather and leather products	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Wood products	8,124	1,196	1,746	756	581	676
Metal, mineral and chemical products (subtotal)	20,019	2,894	1,608	1,735	982	582
Coke and refined petroleum products	5,856	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	795	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Chemical products	3,382	1,150	[sample too small]	284	330	[sample too small]
Glass, cement and other non-metallic mineral products	9,775	1,166	[sample too small]	568	432	[sample too small]
Metal products	1,006	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	88	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Machinery and equipment, consumer durables (subtotal)	2,351	1,152	644	184	424	222
Machinery and equipment	1,142	332	[sample too small]	98	132	[sample too small]
Transport equipment	654	597	414	47	223	129
Furniture	555	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	38	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Other products (subtotal)	55,795	7,830	6,613	4,184	2,779	2,229
Waste related products	23,572	[sample too small]	925	1,111	[sample too small]	276
Mail, parcels	664	509	[sample too small]	73	207	[sample too small]
Empty containers, pallets and other packaging	5,837	1,341	1,616	699	513	453
Household and office removals	3,106	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	214	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Grouped goods	21,679	4,973	3,534	1,993	1,707	1,303
Unidentifiable goods	938	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	94	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Other goods	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]
Total	138,364	20,689	17,094	11,522	7,509	5,854

Table 3.5: Goods lifted or moved by UK HGVs, for journeys entering or leaving the UK by commodity, for the 12 month period ending June 2022 [note1]. This worksheet contains one table. Some cells refer to notes which can be found in the notes worksheet. Source: Department for Transport (DfT)
Commodity	Total goods entering UK (thousand tonnes) [note 3]	Of which entering Scotland (thousand tonnes) [note 3]	Total goods leaving UK (thousand tonnes) [note 3]	Of which leaving Scotland (thousand tonnes) [note 3]	Total goods entering UK (million tonne-kilometres) [note 3]	Of which entering Scotland (million tonne-kilometres) [note 3]	Total goods leaving UK (million tonne-kilometres) [note 3]	Of which leaving Scotland (million tonne-kilometres) [note 3]
Products of agriculture, forestry, raw materials (subtotal)	777	[sample too small]	897	128	231	[sample too small]	369	135
Agricultural products	497	[sample too small]	407	118	167	[sample too small]	248	131
Coal and lignite	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Metal ore and other mining and quarrying	280	[sample too small]	416	[sample too small]	64	[sample too small]	94	[sample too small]
Food products, including beverages and tobacco (subtotal)	1,225	75	1,041	97	609	77	431	109
Textile, leather and wood products (subtotal)	279	[sample too small]	212	[sample too small]	99	[sample too small]	66	[sample too small]
Textiles and textile products; leather and leather products	60	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	17	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Wood products	219	[sample too small]	195	[sample too small]	83	[sample too small]	57	[sample too small]
Metal, mineral and chemical products (subtotal)	857	[sample too small]	1,236	29	335	[sample too small]	428	24
Coke and refined petroleum products	28	[sample too small]	196	[sample too small]	10	[sample too small]	31	[sample too small]
Chemical products	329	[sample too small]	273	28	157	[sample too small]	194	23
Glass, cement and other non-metallic mineral products	391	[sample too small]	557	[sample too small]	134	[sample too small]	138	[sample too small]
Metal products	108	[sample too small]	211	[sample too small]	35	[sample too small]	66	[sample too small]
Machinery and equipment, consumer durables (subtotal)	414	[sample too small]	451	[sample too small]	277	[sample too small]	293	[sample too small]
Machinery and equipment	195	[sample too small]	259	[sample too small]	113	[sample too small]	158	[sample too small]
Transport equipment	173	[sample too small]	139	[sample too small]	138	[sample too small]	96	[sample too small]
Furniture	46	[sample too small]	53	[sample too small]	26	[sample too small]	39	[sample too small]
Other products (subtotal)	2,046	26	2,474	21	744	28	853	27
Waste related products	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	177	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	39	[sample too small]
Mail, parcels	434	[sample too small]	443	[sample too small]	133	[sample too small]	146	[sample too small]
Empty containers, pallets and other packaging	342	[sample too small]	491	[sample too small]	103	[sample too small]	136	[sample too small]
Household and office removals	70	[sample too small]	105	[sample too small]	28	[sample too small]	48	[sample too small]
Grouped goods	986	[sample too small]	1,184	[sample too small]	425	[sample too small]	460	[sample too small]
Unidentifiable goods	33	[sample too small]	67	[sample too small]	22	[sample too small]	23	[sample too small]
Other goods	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Total	5,598	161	6,312	290	2,294	150	2,440	307

Table 3.6: Goods lifted or moved by UK HGVs, entering or leaving Scotland, to or from rest of UK, by origins and destinations of journeys, for the 12 month period ending June 2022 [note1]. This worksheet contains one table. Some cells refer to notes which can be found in the notes worksheet. Source: Department for Transport (DfT)
Origin or destination of journey	Goods entering Scotland (thousand tonnes)	Goods leaving Scotland (thousand tonnes)	Goods entering Scotland (million tonne-kilometres)	Goods leaving Scotland (million tonne-kilometres)
England	20,237	16,470	7,329	5,635
North East	2,884	3,118	717	713
North West	7,322	6,578	2,007	1,749
Yorkshire & the Humber	4,134	2,754	1,520	1,078
East Midlands	1,954	1,311	938	629
West Midlands	2,379	1,523	1,093	685
East	534	[sample too small]	348	[sample too small]
London	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
South East	710	653	495	451
South West	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Wales	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Northern Ireland	278	543	97	169
Total elsewhere in UK	20,689	17,094	7,509	5,854

Table 3.7: Goods lifted or moved by UK HGVs, entering or leaving Scotland, to or from outwith the UK, by origins and destinations of journeys, 2021. This worksheet contains one table. Some cells refer to notes which can be found in the notes worksheet. Source: Department for Transport (DfT)
Origin or destination of journey	Goods entering Scotland (thousand tonnes)	Goods leaving Scotland (thousand tonnes)	Goods entering Scotland (million tonne-kilometres)	Goods leaving Scotland (million tonne-kilometres)
Austria	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Belgium & Luxembourg	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Bulgaria	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Croatia	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Cyprus	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Czech Republic	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Denmark	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Estonia	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Finland	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
France	18	126	21,308	121,915
Germany	[sample too small]	24	[sample too small]	24,626
Greece	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Hungary	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Ireland	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Italy	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Latvia	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Lithuania	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Malta	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Netherlands	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Poland	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Portugal	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Romania	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Slovakia	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Slovenia	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Spain	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Sweden	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Total EU countries	120	206	106,868	211,428
Other countries	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]
Total outwith UK	127	217	116,853	225,915

Table 3.8: Freight lifted by UK HGVs on journeys with UK origins and destinations which either started or ended in Scotland, in the 12 month period ending June 2022 [note1]. This worksheet contains one table. Some cells refer to notes which can be found in the notes worksheet. Source: Department for Transport (DfT)
Origin or destination of journey	ZetTrans (destination)	HITRANS (destination)	NESTRANS (destination)	TACTRAN (destination)	SESTRAN (destination)	SPT (destination)	Swestrans (destination)	Scotland (destination)	Elsewhere in the UK (destination)	Total (destination)
ZetTrans (origin)	[sample too small]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[sample too small]	[not available]	[sample too small]
HITRANS (origin)	[sample too small]	14,237	711	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	14,948	3,786	18,734
NESTRANS (origin)	[sample too small]	381	5,754	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	6,135	2,350	8,485
TACTRAN (origin)	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]
SESTRAN (origin)	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]
SPT (origin)	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]
Swestrans (origin)	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[sample too small]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]
Scotland (origin)	[sample too small]	14,618	6,465	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	21,679	6,136	27,815
Elsewhere in the UK (origin)	[sample too small]	4,495	4,258	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	8,753	1,669,056	1,677,809
Total (origin)	[sample too small]	19,113	10,723	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	[not available]	30,432	1,675,192	1,705,624

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