Road freight statistics: October 2022 to September 2023
Road freight transported by Great Britain and UK registered Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs). It also includes statistics on HGV driver vacancies in the UK.
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Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.
This publication includes both accredited official statistics and official statistics.
Accredited Official Statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.
You are welcome to contact us directly by emailing road freight statistics with any comments about how we meet these standards.
Important note for users
The statistics for international road freight in this publication are provisional, with revised statistics due to be published in Summer 2024.
Data from the separate Road Goods Travelling to Europe (RoRo) statistical publication is used to weight the surveys of businesses that operate international road goods vehicles, which inform this publication.
The Road Goods Travelling to Europe statistical series is currently undergoing a quality review due to a potential supplier data issue. The outcome of this review will impact the provisional statistics in this publication. Although figures will change following the review, the effect on this statistical series is expected to be relatively small.
Statistics on the domestic activity of GB-registered Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) operating in the UK, between October 2022 to September 2023
In the 12 months ending September 2023:
- 1.60 billion tonnes of goods were lifted by GB-registered HGVs operating in the UK
- 170 billion tonne kilometres of goods were moved by GB-registered HGVs operating in the UK
- 19.5 billion vehicle kilometres were travelled by GB-registered HGVs operating in the UK
Statistics on HGV driver vacancies in the UK, between October 2021 and December 2023
In quarter 4 (October to December) 2023:
- the proportion of HGV businesses reporting HGV driver vacancies has continued to fall from 23% in quarter 3 (July to September) 2023 to 18% in quarter 4 2023
Statistics on the international activity of UK-registered Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) operating in the UK, between October 2022 to September 2023
In the 12 months ending September 2023:
- 6.1 million tonnes of goods were lifted by UK-registered HGVs operating internationally
- 3.7 billion tonne kilometres of goods were moved by UK-registered HGVs operating internationally
The previous announcements of the UK leaving the EU and subsequent transition period, along with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and resulting supply chain disruption, have caused higher levels of volatility in international road freight statistics over the past 5 years. Therefore, caution should be taken when comparing this data to previous time periods.
Contact us
Road freight statistics
Email roadfreight.stats@dft.gov.uk
Media enquiries 0300 7777 878
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