Chapter 3: Road Freight

Chapter 3: 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 A change in methodology by the Department for Transport (DfT) in 2003 Continuous Survey of Road Goods Transport has resulted in a discontinuity in the series. Therefore road freight transported within the UK from 2004 onwards is not comparable with earlier years.

2. Main Points

Good Lifted & Distance

2.1 In 2016, an estimated 166.9 million tonnes of goods were lifted within Scotland by UK HGVs and transported to destinations within Scotland. About 16 million tonnes of goods from Scotland were delivered to destinations elsewhere in the UK, and around 20 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 2016. (Table 3.1)

2.2 Most road freight journeys are 50 kilometres or less in length: 23% of tonnes lifted by road in Scotland in 2015 were carried a distance of no more than 25 kilometres, and 28% travelled over 25 km but no more than 50 km. The average journey distance, which is calculated by dividing the total tonne-kilometres by the total tonnes lifted, was 91 km. (Table 3.2)

Originating in Scotland

2.3 Goods moved on journeys originating in Scotland with a destination in Scotland accounted for around 11.4 billion tonne-kilometres in 2016. The overall total, including journeys with destinations elsewhere in the UK and abroad, was around 16.9 billion tonne-kms, an increase of 16% on 2015.

Entering Scotland

2.4 In 2016, 20.4 million tonnes of goods entered Scotland on UK HGVs from the rest of the UK. 97% of these came from England. Around three quarters of the goods entering came from the North West (40%), Yorkshire and Humber (14%) and North East (17%) regions of England. Fewer goods leave Scotland for other UK countries (16 million tonnes) than enter from them but the proportions going to and coming from different areas are similar (Table 3.6).

2.5 In 2016, 'metal ore and other mining and quarrying' was the largest single category of goods lifted in Scotland, which remained in Scotland, accounting for 44.1 million tonnes out of the total of 166.9 million tonnes. (Table 3.4)

Destination

2.6 In 2016, UK-registered HGVs carried an estimated 203 thousand tonnes of goods from Scotland to countries outwith the UK, and 128 thousand tonnes from foreign countries into Scotland. Of goods leaving Scotland for abroad, carried by UK road hauliers, 32% went to France and 12% to Germany. (Table 3.7)

2.7 In 2016, around 3% of goods leaving the UK lifted by UK HGVs originated in Scotland. However, Scotland provided 10% of food products leaving the UK (Table 3.5)

2.8 Generally in the period from 2012 to 2016, goods transported by UK-registered HGVs within Scotland were on journeys that started and finished within the same region. The Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) was the most active in terms of tonnage entering and leaving. There were 137 million tonnes on journeys within Scotland and 45 million of these were on journeys beginning in the SPT area (Table 3.8).

Fig. 3.1 Goods lifted by road; entering and leaving Scotland to or from rest of GB, 2016

Table 3.1  Goods lifted by UK HGVs by origin and destination of journey ²   

	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
	million tonnes
a) On journeys originating in Scotland
by destination:
Scotland	155.5	159.8	144.2	118.8	116.8	130.3	136.6	122.4	123.4	136.7	166.9
Elsewhere in UK
England	13.2	15.8	11.4	12.2	13.9	12.9	12.7	12.8	13.6	16.0	15.9
Wales	0.6	0.5	0.6	*	0.8	*	*	*	*	*	*
Northern Ireland	0.4	*	0.3	0.2	0.1	*	0.7	0.2	0.1	0.5	0.4
Total elsewhere in UK	14.2	16.4	12.3	12.6	14.8	13.6	13.7	13.2	13.9	17	16.4
Outwith UK1,3	0.4	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2
Total	170.0	176.8	157.0	131.9	131.9	144.2	150.6	135.8	137.6	153.9	183.5
b) On journeys with Scottish destinations
by origin of journey:
Scotland	155.5	159.8	144.2	118.8	116.8	130.3	136.6	122.4	123.4	136.7	166.9
Elsewhere in UK
England	18.6	21.2	17.1	15.5	17.3	16.8	19.0	16.0	17.9	19.8	20.0
Wales	0.2	0.6	0.3	*	0.4	*	*	*	*	*	*
Northern Ireland	0.1	*	0.3	0.4	0.2	0.3	0.5	*	0.2	0.5	0.2
Total elsewhere in UK	18.9	21.9	17.7	16.0	17.9	17.5	19.8	16.4	18.4	20.4	20.4
Outwith UK1,3	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.1
Total	174.6	182.0	162.2	134.9	134.9	147.9	156.6	138.9	141.9	157.3	187.5

Source: DfT Road Freight Statistics
1. The 'Outwith UK' figures include an element of doublecounting as figures include both the domestic and international legs of the journey.
2. Due to changes in the methodology and processing system used by the Department for Transport, 2004 and post-2004 figures are not comparable with pre-2004 figures. These figures
include goods lifted by Northern Irish-based HGVs, so are slightly higher than those appearing in DfT's Road Freight Statisics. * = Sample too small for a reliable estimate

Table 3.2  Goods lifted by UK HGVs in Scotland, with destinations within the UK, by length of haul, 2016

	Length of haul (kilometres)
	>0- 25	>25- 50	> 50- 100	>100- 150	>150- 200	>200- 300	>300- 400	>400- 500	>500	All
Tonnes
millions	42.3	52.0	39.9	16.6	9.6	12.2	6.0	2.2	2.5	183.3
percentage	23	28	22	9	5	7	3	1	1	100
Tonne-kilometres
millions	630	1,881	2,818	2,052	1,649	3,034	2,067	990	1,519	16,639
percentage	4	11	17	12	10	18	12	6	9	100

Source: DfT Road Freight Statistics

Table 3.3  Goods moved by UK HGVs by destination, and the economy's road freight intensity  

	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
	million tonne-kilometres
a) On journeys originating in Scotland
by destination:
Scotland	8,282	8,402	8,321	6,788	7,173	8,360	8,139	7,773	7,700	8,476	11,351
Elsewhere in UK
England	4,859	5,654	4,208	4,199	4,708	4,087	3,854	4,246	4,507	5,428	5,177
Wales	317	207	273	*	351	*	*	*	*	*	*
Northern Ireland	87	*	49	30	18	*	130	25	36	77	73
Total elsewhere in UK	5,263	5,880	4,530	4,345	5,077	4,396	4,190	4,357	4,588	5,723	5,288
Outwith UK 2	412	668	533	519	445	370	366	312	276	240	225
Total	13,957	14,950	13,384	11,652	12,695	13,126	12,694	12,442	12,563	14,438	16,864
b) On journeys with Scottish destinations
by origin of journey:
Scotland	8,282	8,402	8,321	6,788	7,173	8,360	8,139	7,773	7,700	8,476	11,351
Elsewhere in UK
England	6,804	7,156	5,801	5,393	5,888	5,348	5,570	5,392	6,026	6,616	6,636
Wales	142	329	201	*	212	*	*	*	*	*	*
Northern Ireland	16	*	77	32	32	65	101	*	58	107	49
Total elsewhere in UK	6,962	7,509	6,080	5,460	6,132	5,563	5,854	5,553	6,207	6,809	6,780
Outwith UK 2	181	290	233	176	170	119	130	124	103	186	134
Total	15,425	16,201	14,634	12,424	13,475	14,042	14,123	13,451	14,009	15,470	18,265
c) The road freight intensity of the Scottish economy - an index of the ratio of the index of road freight tonne-kilometres to the index of Gross Domestic Product
Road freight moved by UK HGVs on journeys originating in Scotland	million tonne-kilometres
volume	13,957	14,950	13,384	11,652	12,695	13,126	12,694	12,442	12,563	14,438	16,864
	index, 2006 = 100
Index: 2006 = 100	100.0	107.1	95.9	83.5	91.0	94.0	91.0	89.1	90.0	103.4	120.8
Scottish Gross Domestic Product (Gross Value Added for all industries)1
Index: 2013 = 100	98.5	99.1	98.8	96.5	96.8	97.8	97.8	100	102.7	104.9	105.3
Index: 2006=100	100.0	100.6	100.3	98.0	98.3	99.3	99.3	101.5	104.2	106.5	106.9
Road freight intensity
Index: 2006 = 100	100.0	106.5	95.6	85.2	92.6	94.7	91.6	87.8	86.3	97.2	113.1

Source: DfT Road Freight Statistics
1. Scottish GDP figures are as published 5 July 2017.
* = Sample too small for a reliable estimate
Note: GDP figures available table 5 here http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/GDP/Findings
Note: discontinuities in the series (denoted by lines) are described in detail within the methodology note; comparisons across years where
methodological changes have occurred should be treated with caution. Methodology note

Table 3.4 Goods lifted or moved by UK HGVs, for journeys within the UK with a Scottish 

origin or destination, by commodity, 2016
	Goods remaining in Scotland	Goods entering Scotland from rest of UK	Goods leaving Scotland for rest of UK
	thousand tonnes
Products of agriculture, forestry, raw materials
Agricultural products	13,963	1,691	2,100
Coal and lignite	*	-	167
Metal ore and other mining and quarrying	44,127	484	1,128
Subtotal	58,765	2,175	3,396
Food products, including beverages and tobacco
Food products	24,835	8,309	4,895
Textile, leather and wood products
Textiles and textile products; leather and leather products	1,734	316	192
Wood products	4,507	723	1,328
Subtotal	6,241	1,039	1,520
Metal, mineral and chemical products
Coke and refined petroleum products	10,483	300	452
Chemical products	2,618	791	149
Glass, cement and other non-metallic mineral products	9,128	1,318	466
Metal products	3,685	937	198
Subtotal	25,914	3,346	1,265
Machinery and equipment, consumer durables
Machinery and equipment	5,855	550	188
Transport equipment	2,344	650	390
Furniture	914	245	70
Subtotal	9,113	1,446	648
Other products
Waste related products	17,986	650	892
Mail, parcels	2,091	822	803
Empty containers, pallets and other packaging	4,117	365	548
Household and office removals	2,762	354	386
Grouped goods	11,799	1,638	1,765
Unidentifiable goods	3,215	302	240
Other goods	*	*	*
Subtotal	42,011	4,131	4,663
Total all commodities	166,879	20,447	16,387
	million tonne kms
Products of agriculture, forestry, raw materials
Agricultural products	1,218	618	558
Coal and lignite	*	-	71
Metal ore and other mining and quarrying	2,066	157	318
Subtotal	3,343	775	947
Food products, including beverages and tobacco
Food products	2,673	2,483	1,770
Textile, leather and wood products
Textiles and textile products; leather and leather products	121	87	58
Wood products	331	271	446
Subtotal	452	359	504
Metal, mineral and chemical products
Coke and refined petroleum products	987	115	96
Chemical products	254	333	66
Glass, cement and other non-metallic mineral products	416	376	143
Metal products	365	346	47
Subtotal	2,023	1,170	353
Machinery and equipment, consumer durables
Machinery and equipment	295	214	82
Transport equipment	155	219	150
Furniture	70	97	23
Subtotal	519	530	255
Other products
Waste related products	667	219	269
Mail, parcels	174	305	297
Empty containers, pallets and other packaging	208	147	189
Household and office removals	162	118	113
Grouped goods	872	575	511
Unidentifiable goods	257	99	76
Other goods	*	*	*
Subtotal	2,341	1,463	1,459
Total all commodities	11,351	6,780	5,288

* = Sample too small for a reliable estimate

Table 3.5   Goods lifted or moved by UK HGVs, for journeys entering or leaving the UK

by commodity, 2016 1
Goods entering UK		Goods leaving UK
	Total entering UK	of which: entering Scotland	Total leaving UK	of which: leaving Scotland
	thousand tonnes
Products of agriculture, forestry, raw materials
Agricultural products	570	*	542	*
Coal and lignite	*	*	*	*
Metal ore and other mining and quarrying	228	*	351	*
Subtotal	838	*	931	*
Food products, including beverages and tobacco
Food products	1,296	*	957	97
Textile, leather and wood products
Textiles and textile products; leather and leather products	*	*	51	*
Wood products	232	*	257	*
Subtotal	255	*	308	*
Metal, mineral and chemical products
Coke and refined petroleum products	80	*	*	*
Chemical products	380	*	515	*
Glass, cement and other non-metallic mineral products	637	*	1,019	*
Metal products	143	*	155	*
Subtotal	1,241	*	1,726	*
Machinery and equipment, consumer durables
Machinery and equipment	271	*	335	*
Transport equipment	280	*	209	*
Furniture	52	*	92	*
Subtotal	603	*	636	*
Other products
Waste related products	461	*	214	*
Mail, parcels	125	*	188	*
Empty containers, pallets and other packaging	144	*	100	*
Household and office removals	103	*	105	*
Grouped goods	1,364	*	1,187	*
Unidentifiable goods	120	*	72	*
Other goods	*	*	*	*
Subtotal	2,355	*	1,886	*
Total for journeys outwith UK	6,588	128	6,445	203
	million tonne kms
Products of agriculture, forestry, raw materials
Agricultural products	281	*	234	*
Coal and lignite	*	*	*	*
Metal ore and other mining and quarrying	75	*	71	*
Subtotal	366	*	329	*
Food products, including beverages and tobacco
Food products	649	*	515	111
Textile, leather and wood products
Textiles and textile products; leather and leather products	*	*	35	*
Wood products	76	*	81	*
Subtotal	89	*	116	*
Metal, mineral and chemical products
Coke and refined petroleum products	33	*	*	*
Chemical products	212	*	328	*
Glass, cement and other non-metallic mineral products	148	*	234	*
Metal products	72	*	80	*
Subtotal	465	*	659	*
Machinery and equipment, consumer durables
Machinery and equipment	182	*	223	*
Transport equipment	192	*	165	*
Furniture	43	*	58	*
Subtotal	418	*	446	*
Other products
Waste related products	84	*	69	*
Mail, parcels	41	*	83	*
Empty containers, pallets and other packaging	63	*	67	*
Household and office removals	80	*	101	*
Grouped goods	602	*	530	*
Unidentifiable goods	112	*	47	*
Other goods	*	*	*	*
Subtotal	1,000	*	916	*
Total for journeys outwith UK	2,986	134	2,981	225

1. These figures include vehicles travelling between Northern Ireland and Ireland, so are higher than those appearing in DfT's Road Freight Statisics
* = Sample too small for a reliable estimate

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, 2016

	Goods entering Scotland	Goods leaving Scotland	Goods entering Scotland	Goods leaving Scotland
	thousand tonnes		million tonne kms
Origin / destination of journey
England
North East	3,654	2,838	648	584
North West	8,198	6,620	2,195	1,699
Yorkshire & the Humber	3,036	2,604	1,176	869
East Midlands	2,073	1,408	1,021	670
West Midlands	1,313	925	552	422
East	620	*	365	*
London	*	*	*	*
South East	*	400	*	261
South West	445	407	265	246
Total England	20,009	15,941	6,636	5,177
Wales	*	*	*	*
Northern Ireland	222	351	49	73
Total elsewhere in UK	20,447	16,387	6,780	5,288

* = Sample too small for a reliable estimate

Table 3.7    Goods lifted or moved by UK HGVs, entering or leaving Scotland, to or from outwith UK, by origins and destinations of journeys, 2016 

	Goods entering Scotland	Goods leaving Scotland	Goods entering Scotland	Goods leaving Scotland
	thousand tonnes		thousand tonne kms
Origin / destination of journey
EU countries
Austria	*	*	*	*
Belgium & Luxembourg	*	*	*	*
Bulgaria	*	*	*	*
Croatia	*	*	*	*
Cyprus	*	*	*	*
Czech Republic	*	*	*	*
Denmark	*	*	*	*
Estonia	*	*	*	*
Finland	*	*	*	*
France	*	64	*	61,748
Germany	*	24	*	27,817
Greece	*	*	*	*
Hungary	*	*	*	*
Ireland	*	*	*	*
Italy	*	*	*	*
Latvia	*	*	*	*
Lithuania	*	*	*	*
Malta	*	*	*	*
Netherlands	*	*	*	*
Poland	*	*	*	*
Portugal	*	*	*	*
Romania	*	*	*	*
Slovakia	*	*	*	*
Slovenia	*	*	*	*
Spain	*	*	*	*
Sweden	*	*	*	*
Total EU countries	127	186	133,347	204,824
Other countries	*	*	*	*
Total outwith UK	128	203	134,276	225,376

* = Sample too small for a reliable estimate

Table 3.8  Average Freight lifted by UK HGVs per year (2012-2016):  Journeys with U.K. origins and destinations which either  started  or ended in Scotland 

	Journey Ended In
	ZetTrans	HITRANS	NESTRANS	TACTRAN	SESTRAN	SPT	SWestrans	SCOTLAND	Elsewhere in UK	Total
Journey Started In:	Thousand tonnes
ZetTrans	852	*	-	-	-	-	-	873	-	873
HITRANS	*	16,341	606	516	426	1,027	158	19,117	420	19,537
NESTRANS	-	683	13,802	928	456	726	50	16,646	479	17,125
TACTRAN	-	713	956	7,046	1,804	1,282	213	12,015	1,418	13,434
SESTRAN	-	799	1,275	2,486	25,850	6,008	647	37,064	4,061	41,126
SPT	-	1,183	851	965	5,727	34,559	1,465	44,749	5,574	50,323
SWestrans	-	67	*	268	440	1,354	4,505	6,736	2,873	9,609
SCOTLAND	893	19,808	17,592	12,208	34,704	44,957	7,039	137,200	14,826	152,027
Elsewhere in UK	-	353	570	1,100	6,554	7,476	3,043	19,097	1,504,063	1,523,160
Total	893	20,161	18,163	13,308	41,258	52,433	10,082	156,297	1,518,889	1,675,186