NO-GO AREAS

The effect of traffic congestion on freight transport in the UK is discussed. A report by the Commission for Integrated Transport shows that the UK has more congestion than any other European country, with use of the available road space of twice the continental European average. Congestion accounts for 5% of total freight transport time in the UK compared with just over 1% in France. This increases the annual running costs of a 40-t articulated lorry doing 70,000 miles by 10% in the UK compared with France. The M6 in Birmingham is highlighted as a particular problem. Other estimates of the cost of congestion are twice as high on the basis of the uncertainty created in the supply chain, and the lost opportunities to generate new business. The average duration of congestion incidents in the UK is also increasing. Drivers often leave depots early in the morning to avoid outgoing congestion but cannot avoid it when returning with back loads. The customer does not consider the cost of congestion an acceptable additional charge.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00103063
• Corporate Authors:

  Reed Business Information, Limited

  Quadrant House, The Quadrant
  Brighton Road
  Sutton, Surrey  United Kingdom  SM2 5AS
• Authors:
  • SHEPPARD, G
• Publication Date: 2002-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 42-4
• Serial:
  • COMMERCIAL MOTOR
  • Volume: 195
  • Issue Number: 4961
  • Publisher: Reed Business Information, Limited
  • ISSN: 0010-3063

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Economic efficiency; Freeways; Freight transportation; Logistics; Operations research; Timetables; Traffic congestion; Travel time; Trip length
• Geographic Terms: Europe; United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 632: Congestion (traffic); 224: Cost; 237: Economic efficiency; 8034: Europe; 1112: Freight transport; 697: Journey time; 264: Logistics; 2752: Motorway; 9055: Operational research; 1186: Timetable; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Freight Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00922529
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Apr 2 2002 12:00AM