Abstract: This paper is the result of a limited review of the utilisation of freight vehicles in urban areas undertaken at the request of the Transport Industry Advisory Council. It is based on discussions with vehicle operators and other participants in the urban freight transport process. Average annual vehicle kilometres was selected to measure vehicle utilisation. Interviews were undertaken to identify the major constraints on high utilisation as perceived by the various participants in the transport field. Problems were found to arise in four main areas: 1) access to load/ unload points via public streets; 2) inefficient loading/ unloading arrangements lending to queues; 3) mismatch of hours; and 4) delays on the road. There are also a multitude of regulatory and institutional constraints which affect the operator, covering working conditions, customs requirements, vehicle limits; and usage of the city infrastructure. It is clear that while significant advances have been made over the last ten years, by the industry itself and by governments, the basic underlying problems remain unchanged. Many of these problems arise from market failures and are not within the powers of government to correct without a very high degree of interference with the market. Such problems are most effectively dealt with by the participants themselves - with the government role being to improve the data base and information flows as well as ensuring that regulation does not hamper the process of adjustment.
Publication Year: 1981
Publication Date: 1981-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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