Domestic road freight statistics: October 2021 to September 2022
Published 28 March 2023
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/road-freight-statistics-october-2021-to-september-2022/domestic-road-freight-statistics-october-2021-to-september-2022
About this release
This statistical release summarises the latest statistics on the domestic activity of GB-registered Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) operating in the UK, between October 2021 to September 2022. The information is obtained from continuous surveys of businesses that operate road goods vehicles. A more detailed annual release on domestic road freight is also available for July 2021 to June 2022.
Feedback
We are providing our statistics releases in HTML format and we would like to hear your comments. If you have any feedback on our use of this format or on this release, please contact the road freight statistics team (see contact details).
Notes about the data
Due to rounding, totals may not appear to equal the sum of their parts.
Important note for users
Data collection for domestic road freight statistics moved from a paper to online survey midway through 2021. An investigation of the data has concluded that the paper data up to June 2021 (Quarter 2) and online data since July 2021 (Quarter 3) should not be compared. A number of factors related to the online data collection were considered, alongside other external factors which may have influenced recent data changes.
The methodology change occurred during a period of significant volatility in the road freight sector following the UK’s exit from the European Union, the COVID-19 pandemic and recruitment and retention challenges for HGV drivers. This conflation of trends means is it not possible to identify or account for the data changes caused solely by the methodology change.
A detailed explanation of the methodology change and the impact on the data can be found within the methodology note.
Definition
HGV
A lorry with a plated weight of 3.5 tonnes or more (the plated weight is the maximum permissible weight of a vehicle when loaded).
Headline figures
In the 12 months ending September 2022,
1.64 billion tonnes
of goods were lifted by GB-registered HGVs operating in the UK.
Infographic 1: Total amount of domestic goods lifted, goods moved, and vehicle kilometres travelled by GB-registered HGVs in the 12-month period ending September 2022. Table RFS0101
Please note the difference in units between annual and quarterly figures shown in infographic 1 above.
The amount of goods lifted, the amount of goods moved, and the distance travelled was broadly stable in the 12 months ending September 2022.
Definitions
Goods lifted
The weight of goods carried, measured in tonnes. This is a measure of the amount of goods transported around the UK by GB-registered HGVs.
Goods moved
The weight of goods carried, multiplied by the distance hauled, measured in tonne kilometres. This is a measure of the total activity of GB-registered HGVs, accounting for both the distance travelled by each vehicle and the weight of its load.
More information
Other statistics related to freight and trade are available.
Please contact road freight statistics if you have any questions about DfT road freight statistics.
Data source
Previously domestic road freight data was collected via paper surveys until 1 August 2021, when the method to collect data transitioned to an online survey.
This short statistical release provides the latest headline statistics on the amount of goods carried by GB-registered HGVs and the distance they travelled. This release is published each quarter.
A more detailed annual release on domestic road freight is also available for July 2021 to June 2022 which covers the type of goods carried by GB-registered HGVs, as well as their origin and destination, method of transportation, intermodal activity and empty running.
Accompanying data tables are available which give further detail on the key results presented in this statistical release.
Further information about the statistics and methodology in this report can be found in the road freight domestic and international statistics guidance.
National statistics
These statistics are designated as National Statistics. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards as set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics. The Code of Practice for Statistics plays an essential role in ensuring that statistics published by government inspire the public confidence through demonstrating trustworthiness and providing high-quality statistics.
The continued designation of the road freight statistics as National Statistics was confirmed in December 2016 following a compliance check by the Office for Statistics Regulation against the Code of Practice in July 2016.
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Contact details
Road freight statistics
Email roadfreight.stats@dft.gov.uk
Media enquiries 0300 7777 878