The scope of the report is broad in as much as it attempts to develop a comprehensive, explicit and detailed analysis of both historical and future road investment for the whole of Australia. The report does not make specific total funding recommendations, nor does it attempt to suggest what should be the future levels of Commonwealth, State and Local Government funding of roads expenditure.

It focuses considerable attention on past patterns of road expenditure and on the economic merit of those expenditures. The sensitivity of the results of the economic analysis to different levels of overall road funding is examined. This examination is particularly directed to assessments of efficient allocations of resources between road categories and States.

Volume 2 is a verbatim publication of comments provided to the BTE for its Report to assist the Commonwealth government in its consideration of grants of financial assistance to the States for roads.

• An Assessment of the Australian Road System Volume 1
  
  report_042_v1.pdf
  (17.52 MB)

• An Assessment of the Australian Road System Volume 2
  
  report_042_v2.pdf
  (19.43 MB)

This paper presents estimates of the concentration of ownership and the geographic distribution of the Australian trucking fleet.

• Some Characteristics of Truck Ownership in Australia
  
  op_040.pdf
  (4.62 MB)

The present work builds on that published previously (BTE Occasional Paper 6, Photochemical Pollution in Australian Airsheds) to develop a discussion of the basic principles and specific measures appropriate to the improvement of urban air quality.

• A Guide to the Control of Photochemical Pollution
  
  op_041.pdf
  (7.24 MB)

The desirability of de-regulating road freight has long been a subject of discussion and action by governments in Australia. A recent visit to the United Kingdom by Dr K.W. Ogden provided an opportunity for a brief study of the impact of de-regulation of road freight in Britain. The paper examines the effect of the regulations currently in force in Britain and also examines several aspects of road freight regulation in Britain which may be relevant to freight policy in Australia.

• Review of Road Freight Regulation in Britain
  
  op_043.pdf
  (4.59 MB)

This Paper details how the scope and purpose of Commonwealth assistance to the States (and, through the States, to Local Government) for roads has varied over the years. Other issues addressed include the distribution of Commonwealth funds between States and between rural and urban roads, and the varying conditions which have been applied to Commonwealth assistance.

• Road Grants Legislation in Australia: Commonwealth Government Involvement 1900–1981
  
  op_048.pdf
  (5.34 MB)

The study identifies and measures the transport task undertaken for the principal rural products in terms of three variables: tonnes consigned, tonne kilometres performed and freight charges paid by the users. It is considered the study provides valuable insights into the nature and size of the rural product transport task in Australia.

• Estimates of the Task of Transporting Principal Rural Products in Australia in 1975–76
  
  ip_005.pdf
  (5.48 MB)

This Paper presents the final results from a BTE survey of trucks passing through checking stations located on the Hume and Pacific Highways in NSW at Marulan and Berowra respectively. The aim of the survey was to obtain information on the quantity and nature of road freight travelling to and from Sydney along these two major highways, for use in BTE research studies. The survey commenced in mid 1972 and terminated in mid 1978. This period is an interesting one as there was considerable growth in tonnage handled by the goods trucking industry, particularly intrastate freight.

• Estimates of Freight Travelling to and from Sydney along the Hume and Pacific Highways
  
  ip_006.pdf
  (5.43 MB)

This Report presents the results of an investigation of the market conduct and performance of that part of the road haulage industry which undertakes the transportation of cattle intended for slaughter at abattoirs for human consumption.

In addition, an assessment of the costs of transhipping beef from processing points to retail outlets is made. The Ministerial terms of reference for the study are contained in Appendix I.

• Transport of Slaughter Cattle in Australia
  
  report_050.pdf
  (3.27 MB)

The Paper describes some of the basic financial considerations associated with entry into the trucking industry and details possible operational strategies. This study is aimed at entrants into the trucking industry but it is also expected to prove beneficial to current operators.

• The Road Transport Business: A Guide to Some Financial Aspects
  
  op_036.pdf
  (3.48 MB)

An examination of commodities carried and industries served by urban freight transport revealed that nearly half the tonnage moved is in the form of bulk products (sand and gravel, petroleum, cement, etc), though, in past studies, attention has been focused on the problems of general freight carriers to the exclusion of the others. The current review revealed that problems faced by carriers of bulk materials tend to be different from those faced by carriers of general goods.

• Utilisation of Urban Road Freight Vehicles
  
  op_039.pdf
  (5.2 MB)