A note on the road pricing of commercial traffic

With renewed interest being shown in the UK in the introduction of road pricing as a means of restraining urban traffic, the article assesses its possible effect on urban freight transport. Two cases are examined in which (1) the only effect of road pricing is to increase haulage costs, and (2) any beneficial effects of reduced congestion resulting from road pricing are also considered. Although comprehensive road pricing may have little effect on total urban freight traffic flow, it might encourage more efficient methods and the retiming of deliveries and collections. The long-term effects of a road-pricing policy are considered as well as criticisms of its application such as increased haulage rates and the possibility of causing more frequent trips by smaller vehicles. /TRRL/