Freight Measurement and Modelling in Australia aims to summarise the existing state of knowledge on freight in Australia and to present the time series data, analysis and sources which underpin the BTRE's long term freight forecasts. Consistently measured time series data are required to model and forecast freight flows. The report describes the methodologies evolved by the BTRE to do this. It also includes the results of modelling and forecasting undertaken using the derived series. Non-bulk freight is projected to increase by 82 per cent in tonne-kilometre terms between 2003 and 2020 (average 3.6 per cent a year).

The expected rate of growth in gross domestic product and reductions in freight rates are the key drivers of this growth as well as a continuing trend to national distribution by manufacturers, wholesalers and importers. With Treasury projecting some fall-off in the long term economic growth going forward, the non-bulk growth rate is slightly lower than in the recent past. Based on past trends, road's share of national non-bulk freight is projected to increase marginally from 74 per cent to 76 per cent, with the rail share declining from 21 per cent to 17 per cent and sea freight making up the balance (with air freight vanishingly small in tonnekilometre terms, albeit not in value).

These mode share projections, however, do not take account of the potential for rejuvenation of rail on north-south routes, in somewhat the same manner as has already occurred on east-west routes. Capital city freight tonne-kilometres are projected to grow by 3.0 per cent a year between 2003 and 2020 (compared with a 1971–2003 average of 5.0 per cent). While heavy vehicles comprise only 4 per cent of the metropolitan traffic stream, growth of this level implies a slight increase in the heavy vehicle proportion (to 4.2 per cent in 2020).

Rail is expected to remain the largest mode in shipping bulk freight (46 per cent share in 2003, 45 per cent in 2020), followed by sea freight (30 per cent and 29 per cent shares respectively). Rail is well suited for transporting to port Australia's large export tonnages in coal, other minerals and grains. Rail freight has fallen in most other bulk commodities.

• Freight Measurement and Modelling in Australia
  
  report_112.pdf
  (7.78 MB)

Paper given to the 29th Australasian Transport Research Forum, 27–29 September 2006, Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast. Authors: David Gargett, Afzal Hossain and David Cosgrove.

• Interstate Freight on States Roads
  
  sp_001_Interstate_Freight.pdf
  (1022.08 KB)

COAG commissioned the Review in February 2006 with a focus on national freight corridors but also examining local networks where they interact with, and impact on, these corridors. The Review report was prepared by a working group of representatives from the Department of Transport and Regional Services, State and Territory government transport and planning agencies and the Australian Local Government Association. The Review was overseen by the COAG Competition and Regulation Working Group. The BTRE provided the Secretariat to the Review.

• COAG Urban Congestion Review Report
  
  cr_001_COAG_Urban_Congestion_Review_Report.pdf
  (495.13 KB)

• Congestion Management Approaches
  
  cr_001_Congestion_Management_Approaches.pdf
  (1.09 MB)

• Freight Smart
  
  cr_001_Freight_Smart.pdf
  (2.49 MB)

• Traffic Management Systems (Urban Motorways)
  
  cr_001_TMS_Urban_Motorways.pdf
  (1.19 MB)

• TMS Urban Non Motorway
  
  cr_001_TMS_Urban_Non-Motorway.pdf
  (1.25 MB)

• Working Paper 71, Estimating Urban Traffic & Congestion Cost Trends for Australian Cities

The Excel file below contains tables showing the value and weight of Australian international imports and exports each quarter, by sea freight (liner and non-liner) and by air. The time series covers the period from 3rd quarter 1984 to the 1st quarter 2007.

The Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics has taken due care in preparing the analyses contained in these tables. However, noting that data used for the analyses have been provided by third parties, the Commonwealth gives no warranty to the accuracy, reliability, fitness for purpose, or otherwise of the information.

• International Freight to/from Australia
  
  
  stats_001.xls
  (53.5 KB)

This Information Sheet provides indexed trends in average interstate non-bulk freight rates, from 1964–65 to 2007–08, updating the freight rate indexes previously published in Freight Rates in Australia, Information Sheet 19 (BTRE 2002). The estimates show that, following generally declining real freight rates over the previous two decades, real freight rates for road, rail and long-distance coastal shipping have risen since 2000–01 (Table 1 provides nominal and real indexed freight rate series and Figures 1 to 4 illustrate indexed trends in real freight rates). Recent increases in crude oil prices, and flow through to diesel fuel prices, have been an important contributing factor in recent freight rate increases for road, rail and coastal shipping.

• Freight Rates in Australia 1964–65 to 2007–08
  
  is_028.pdf
  (358.72 KB)

Up until the early 1960s, railways dominated all but the shortest land-based freight task. Since then, vast improvements in road vehicle productivity and road infrastructure quality, the gradual removal of regulations restricting road freight carriage and the exponential growth in interstate trade has broadened the range of freight tasks for which road is better suited than rail.

• Road and rail freight: competitors or complements?
  
  is_034.pdf
  (1003.02 KB)

This report provides estimates and forecasts of interstate freight moving between 56 state-to-state origin-destination pairs, for example, South Australia-Queensland.

• Interstate freight in Australia
  
  report_120.pdf
  (4.74 MB)