toad haulage's vital datistics on the u
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1ERE has been a 25 per cent increase in road haulage activity ice 1968, according to figures released by the Department of ansport.
The main gain in goods transport was achieved by pipelines and coastal shipping. This rose to 4.5 and three per cent from 1.6 and 2.6 per cent respectively over the same period.
There has also been a change of apportionment between own-account and hire and reward operators, with own-account, which had the larger share from 1968 to 1971, regaining its lead in 1978.
It carried 758m tonnes in 1978 (650m in 1977), against public haulage's 736m tonnes in 1978 (771m in 1977).
The figures also reinforce the industry's long-held views about the distances covered by road transport, and point out that 674m tonnes, out of the 1494m tonnes carried in 1978, were hauled for less than 26km. Only 53m tonnes were carried for over 301 miles.
Crude minerals account for the biggest product group carried in 1978, with 323m tonnes being transported over all lengths of haul — 195m of these being taken for less than 26km.
The 98,000 vehicles over 28 tonnes gvw account for only six per cent of all goods vehicles, but they carried 61 per cent of freight measured in tonne-kms.
In contrast, reports DTp. the 1.2m vehicles of less than 3.5 tonnes gvw accounted for less than three per cent of all goods moved.
And according to separate figures for September 1979, there were 125,529 licensed operators, of whom the largest group — 19,042 — is in the Metropolitan Traffic Area. The smallest comprises 5449 in South Wales.
There were 67,800 0licences for one vehicle, and 184,500 for fleets of up to five lorries. Only 122,800 0licences were for fleets of more than 50 vehicles, 'although it should be noted that separate 0-licences are issued where operators have bases in different traffic areas.
The book of statistics to 1978 only is available from Her Majesty's Stationery Offices for £7 net.