EVALUATION OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO ASSESS ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT DEMAND

This report reviews freight data sources and determines whether they match the data needs for freight demand forecasting. Data sources are categorised into: international trade statistics, national accounts, prices, production, consumption, national transport data, ad hoc national and regional surveys, road network conditions, and national and regional land-use data. Good data are available for freight transport by sea, rail and air. The data need is in the road freight sector. National data sources such as those from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) are at the level of Statistical Division and not suitable for urban freight analysis. Ad hoc surveys, especially those carried out in the urban area often do not provide the continuity and depth necessary to determine the underlying characteristics of the freight task. There is also no standardisation of the required information in the survey instruments. There has been renewed interest in freight modelling in recent years. Two approaches that are feasible for integrated freight demand forecasting are reviewed and three freight projects are recommended in this report. (a)