Chapter 3: Road Freight

Chapter 3: Road Freight

Infographic Chapter 3: Road Freight

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. Revisions have also been made to figures for the years 2011 to 2016.

2. Main Points

Good Lifted and Distance

2.1 In 2018, an estimated 111.4 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 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 2018. (Table 3.1)

2.2 Most road freight journeys are 100 kilometres or less in length: 20% of tonnes lifted by road in Scotland in 2018 were carried a distance of no more than 25 kilometres, and 23% 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 8.9 billion tonne-kilometres in 2018. The overall total, including journeys with destinations elsewhere in the UK and abroad, was around 14.6 billion tonne-kms, an increase of 11% on 2017. (Table 3.3)

Entering Scotland

2.4 In 2018, 20 million tonnes of goods entered Scotland on UK HGVs from the rest of the UK. 98% of these came from England. Around 70 per cent of the goods entering came from the North West (39%), Yorkshire and Humber (14%) and North East (16%) 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 2018, ‘food products including beverages and tobacco’ was the largest single category of goods lifted in Scotland, which remained in Scotland, accounting for 20.4 million tonnes out of the total of 111.4 million tonnes.  (Table 3.4)

Destination

2.6 In 2018, UK-registered HGVs carried an estimated 179 thousand tonnes of goods from Scotland to countries outwith the UK, and 131 thousand tonnes from foreign countries into Scotland.  Of goods leaving Scotland for abroad, carried by UK road hauliers, 44% went to France and 10% to Germany.  (Table 3.7)

2.7 In 2018, around 3% of goods leaving the UK lifted by UK HGVs originated in Scotland.  (Table 3.5)

2.8 Generally in the period from 2014 to 2018, 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 96 million tonnes on journeys within Scotland and 31 million of these were on journeys beginning in the SPT area (Table 3.8).

Figure 3.1: Goods lifted by road; entering and leaving Scotland to or from rest of GB, 2018

Figure 3.1: Goods lifted by road; entering and leaving Scotland to or from rest of GB, 2018

 

Table 3.1: Goods lifted by UK HGVs by origin and destination of journey2
2008 2009 2010 2011 3 2012 3 2013 3 2014 3 2015 3 2016 3 2017 2018
  million tonnes
a) On journeys originating in Scotland
by destination:    
Scotland 144.2 118.8 116.8   121.0  123.5  111.8  109.1  115.8  123.6  107.6 111.4
Elsewhere in UK
England 11.4 12.2 13.9 12.8  12.4  12.6  13.3  15.8  15.7  14.0 16.5
Wales 0.6 * 0.8  *   *   *   *   *   *  0.6 *
Northern Ireland 0.3 0.2 0.1  *  0.7  0.2  0.1  0.5  0.4  0.2 0.2
Total elsewhere in UK 12.3 12.6 14.8 13.5  13.5  13.0  13.5  16.7  16.2  14.8 17.0
Outwith UK1 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.3  0.3  0.3  0.2  0.2  0.2  0.2 0.2
Total  157.0 131.9 131.9   134.8  137.2  125.0  122.9  132.7  139.9  122.6 128.6
b) On journeys with Scottish destinations
by origin of journey:    
Scotland 144.2 118.8 116.8   121.0  123.5     111.8  109.1  115.8  123.6  107.6 111.4
Elsewhere in UK
England 17.1 15.5 17.3 16.8  18.8  15.8  17.7  19.7  18.9  18.2 19.4
Wales 0.3 * 0.4  *   *   *   *   *   *  * *
Northern Ireland 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.3  0.5   *  0.2  0.5  0.2  * 0.3
Total elsewhere in UK 17.7 16.0 17.9 17.5  19.6  16.2  18.2  20.3  19.3  19.0 19.8
Outwith UK1 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1  0.1  0.1  0.1  0.2  0.1  0.1 0.1
Total  162.2 134.9 134.9 138.5  143.2  128.1  127.4  136.2  143.0  126.7 131.3

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.

3. Figures from 2011 to 2016 were revised in 2018.

* = 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, 2018
  >0-25 >25-50 >50-100 >100- 150 >150-200 >200-300 >300-400 >400-500 >500 All
Tonnes
millions 26.3  27.4  29.6  12.7  8.8  11.9  6.7  2.5  2.4  128.4 
percentage 20  21  23  10  7  9  5  2  2  100 
Tonne-kilometres
millions 368  992  2,123  1,564  1,525    2,925  2,297  1,134  1,467    14,394 
percentage 3  7  15  11  11  20  16  8  10  100 

Source: DfT Road Freight Statistics

Table 3.3: Goods moved by UK HGVs by destination, and the economy's road freight intensity
2008 2009 2010 2011 2 2012 2 2013 2 2014 2 2015 2 2016 2 2017 2018
  million tonne-kilometres
a) On journeys originating in Scotland    
by destination:    
Scotland 8,321  6,788  7,173 8,065  7,704    7,266  7,226  7,708  9,382  7,722  8,873 
Elsewhere in UK    
England 4,208  4,199  4,708 4,068  3,841    4,223  4,470  5,394  5,165  4,927  5,344 
Wales 273  * 351 * * * * * * 231  *
Northern Ireland 49  30  18 * 130  25  36  64  73  42  39 
Total elsewhere in UK 4,530  4,345  5,077 4,377  4,176    4,333  4,551  5,676  5,276  5,201  5,521 
Outwith UK 2 533  519  445 370  358  306  280  250  225  208  241 
Total  13,384  11,652  12,695 12,813  12,239  11,906  12,056  13,634  14,883  13,130  14,635 
b) On journeys with Scottish destinations    
by origin of journey:    
Scotland 8,321  6,788  7,173 8,065  7,704    7,266  7,226  7,708  9,382  7,722  8,873 
Elsewhere in UK    
England 5,801  5,393  5,888 5,347  5,551    5,376  6,010  6,601  6,489  6,103  6,610 
Wales 201  * 212 * * * * * * * *
Northern Ireland 77  32  32 65  101  * 58  101  47  41  46 
Total elsewhere in UK 6,080  5,460  6,132 5,563  5,835  5,525  6,191  6,788  6,628  6,415  6,690 
Outwith UK 2 233  176  170 119  126  124  105  196  134  144  125 
Total  14,634  12,424  13,475 13,747  13,666  12,915  13,522  14,691  16,144  14,281  15,689 
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 13,384  11,652  12,695  12,813  12,239  11,906  12,056  13,634  14,883  13,130    14,635 
  index, 2008 = 100
Index: 2008 = 100 100.0  77.9  84.9  85.7  81.9  79.6  80.6  91.2  99.6  87.8  97.9 
Scottish Gross Domestic Product (Gross Value Added for all industries)1 
Index: 2015 = 100 95.9  93.6  94.5  95.3 95.5 97.5055 99.4 100.0 100.4 101.9 103.3
Index: 2008=100 100.0  97.6  98.5  99.4  99.6    101.7  103.7  104.3  104.8  106.3  107.7 
Road freight intensity
Index: 2008 = 100 100.0  79.8  86.2  86.2  82.2  78.3  77.8  87.4  95.0  82.6  90.9 

Source: DfT Road Freight Statistics

1.  Scottish GDP figures are as published 20 March 2018.

2. Figures from 2011 to 2016 were revised in 2018.

* = 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.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/405241/road-freight-statistics-methodology-note.pdf

Table 3.4: Goods lifted / moved by UK HGVs, for journeys within the UK with a Scottish origin or destination, by commodity, 2018
    Goodsremaining in Scotland Goods entering Scotland from rest of UK Goods leaving Scotland for rest of UK
Products of agriculture, forestry, raw materials
Agricultural products 14,731  2,574  2,870 
Coal and lignite * * *
Metal ore and other mining and quarrying 16,088  * *
Subtotal 31,030  3,027  3,663 
Food products, including beverages and tobacco
Food products 20,378  6,261  5,122 
Textile, leather and wood products
Textiles and textile products; leather and leather products 517 335  *
Wood products 4,709  1,003  967 
Subtotal 5,226  1,338  990 
Metal, mineral and chemical products
Coke and refined petroleum products 4,697  * *
Chemical products 3,516  1,229  *
Glass, cement and other non-metallic mineral products 7,715 1,602  *
Metal products 1,732  350  *
Subtotal 17,660  3,311  2,060 
Machinery and equipment, consumer durables
Machinery and equipment 4,235  * *
Transport equipment 1,271  634  601 
Furniture 267  * *
Subtotal 5,773  1,103  1,034 
Other products
Waste related products 10,539  * 1,019 
Mail, parcels 2,914  1,560  1,131 
Empty containers, pallets and other packaging 2,149  288  409 
Household and office removals 2,931  * *
Grouped goods 11,343  1,723  977 
Unidentifiable goods 1,263  * *
Other goods * * *
Subtotal 31,354  4,734  4,116 
Total all commodities 111,421  19,774  16,985 
Products of agriculture, forestry, raw materials
Agricultural products 1,446  683  857 
Coal and lignite * * *
Metal ore and other mining and quarrying 916  * *
Subtotal 2,377  845  1,125 
Food products, including beverages and tobacco
Food products 1,830  2,146  1,705 
Textile, leather and wood products
Textiles and textile products; leather and leather products 67  115  *
Wood products 375  366  334 
Subtotal 441  480  339 
Metal, mineral and chemical products
Coke and refined petroleum products 405  * *
Chemical products 416  464  *
Glass, cement and other non-metallic mineral products 415  489  *
Metal products 137  100  *
Subtotal 1,372  1,099  564 
Machinery and equipment, consumer durables
Machinery and equipment 264  * *
Transport equipment 103  242  179 
Furniture 31  * *
Subtotal 398  393  349 
Other products
Waste related products 498  * 360 
Mail, parcels 468  566  411 
Empty containers, pallets and other packaging 186  82  88 
Household and office removals 168  * *
Grouped goods 1,042  643  345 
Unidentifiable goods 75  * *
Other goods * * *
Subtotal 2,455  1,726  1,440 
Total all commodities 8,873  6,690  5,521 

* = Sample too small for a reliable estimate

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

Table 3.5: Goods lifted or moved by UK HGVs, for journeys entering or leaving the UK by commodity, 2018 1
  Goods entering UK   Goods leaving UK
Total entering UK of which: entering Scotland Total leaving UK of which: leaving Scotland
Products of agriculture, forestry, raw materials
Agricultural products 456 * 205 *
Coal and lignite * * 1,524 111
Metal ore and other mining and quarrying 317 * 75 *
Subtotal 775 * 1,804 111
Food products, including beverages and tobacco
Food products 2,388 * 278 *
Textile, leather and wood products
Textiles and textile products; leather and leather products 45 * * *
Wood products 93 * 542 *
Subtotal 138 * 615 *
Metal, mineral and chemical products
Coke and refined petroleum products * * 864 *
Chemical products 400 * 370 *
Glass, cement and other non-metallic mineral products 527 * 394 *
Metal products 196 * 241 *
Subtotal 1,181 * 1,870 17
Machinery and equipment, consumer durables
Machinery and equipment 366 * 222 *
Transport equipment 341 * 118 *
Furniture 164 * 160 *
Subtotal 871 47 500 *
Other products
Waste related products 160 * 253 *
Mail, parcels 115 * 236 *
Empty containers, pallets and other packaging 104 * 1,002 *
Household and office removals 136 * 43 *
Grouped goods 862 * * *
Unidentifiable goods 70 * 7,292 *
Other goods * * * 195
Subtotal 1,462 * 8,828 205
Total for journeys outwith UK 6,814 133 13,896 351
Products of agriculture, forestry, raw materials
Agricultural products 179 * 60 *
Coal and lignite * * 637 157
Metal ore and other mining and quarrying 96 * 26 *
Subtotal 277 * 723 157
Food products, including beverages and tobacco
Food products 945 * 94 *
Textile, leather and wood products
Textiles and textile products; leather and leather products 21 * * *
Wood products 42 * 325 *
Subtotal 63 * 336 *
Metal, mineral and chemical products
Coke and refined petroleum products * * 217 *
Chemical products 352 * 144 *
Glass, cement and other non-metallic mineral products 148 * 255 *
Metal products 44 * 205 *
Subtotal 571 * 820 18
Machinery and equipment, consumer durables
Machinery and equipment 207 * 267 *
Transport equipment 299 * 35 *
Furniture 211 * 80 *
Subtotal 716 41 382 *
Other products
Waste related products 33 * 99 *
Mail, parcels 64 * 204 *
Empty containers, pallets and other packaging 33 * 364 *
Household and office removals 116 * 23 *
Grouped goods 336 * * *
Unidentifiable goods 38 * 3,312 *
Other goods * * * 241
Subtotal 622 * 4,004 251
Total for journeys outwith UK 3,195 125 6,359 440

* = Sample too small for a reliable estimate

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

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, 2018
  Goods entering Scotland Goods leaving Scotland Goods entering Scotland Goods leaving Scotland
thousand tonnes million tonne-kilometres
Origin / destination of journey
England
North East 3,122  3,433  680  743 
North West 7,794  7,562  2,186  2,021 
Yorkshire & the Humber 2,859  1,480  1,018  579 
East Midlands 1,733  1,156  777  548 
West Midlands 2,298  1,482  1,030  645 
East * 642  * 370 
London * * * *
South East * * * *
South West * * * *
Total England 19,426  16,462  6,610  5,344 
Wales * * * *
Northern Ireland 273  201  46  39 
Total elsewhere in UK 19,774  16,985  6,690  5,521 

* = 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, 2018
    Goods entering Scotland Goods leaving Scotland Goods entering Scotland Goods leaving Scotland
thousand tonnes   thousand tonne-kilometres
Origin / destination of journey
EU countries
Austria * * * *
Belgium & Luxembourg 50  * 44,562  *
Bulgaria * * * *
Croatia * * * *
Cyprus * * * *
Czech Republic * * * *
Denmark * * * *
Estonia * * * *
Finland * * * *
France 15  85  16,962  94,303 
Germany * 20  * 17,727 
Greece * * * *
Hungary * * * *
Ireland * * * *
Italy * * * *
Latvia * * * *
Lithuania * * * *
Malta * * * *
Netherlands * * * *
Poland * * * *
Portugal * * * *
Romania * * * *
Slovakia * * * *
Slovenia * * * *
Spain * * * *
Sweden * * * *
Total EU countries 131  179  122,600  218,726 
Other countries 2  * 2,847  *
Total outwith UK 133  195  125,447  240,834 

* = Sample too small for a reliable estimate

Table 3.8: Average freight lifted by UK HGVs per year (2014-2018): 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 432  * * * * * * 453  * 453 
HITRANS * 12,206  560  406  333  898  * 14,494  963  15,457 
NESTRANS * 478  10,151  511  449  610  * 12,249  839  13,088 
TACTRAN * 448  797  3,962  1,569  1,241  188  8,206  1,121  9,326 
SESTRAN * 650  846  1,520  17,268  3,914  599  24,797  3,220  28,017 
SPT * 812  702  719  4,475  23,471  1,163  31,342  4,687  36,029 
SWestrans * * * 302  297  990  2,839  4,535  2,437  6,973 
Scotland 475  14,688  13,092  7,419  24,389  31,125  4,889  96,077  13,267  109,343 
Elsewhere in UK * 863  1,190  915  5,138  6,293  2,207  16,606  1,322,225  1,338,831 
Total 475 15,551 14,282 8,335 29,528 37,418 7,095 112,683 1,335,491 1,448,174