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)

This Occasional Paper compares road expenditure and road user taxation in Australia with that in five overseas countries (Canada, Federal Republic of Germany, Great Britain, New Zealand and USA). These five countries were selected because they are federal systems, and/or because they have similar socio-economic backgrounds to Australia.

• Road Financing in Selected Countries
  
  op_049.pdf
  (8 MB)

This Paper presents the results of a study on the performance of roads in a small and therefore more simply analysed region. A road user's view was adopted for performance evaluation during the study and the report's structure represents a methodology for similar future evaluations. For the purpose of the study 'performance' was taken to mean the extent to which requirements are satisfied.

• Assessment of the Australian Road System: A Case Study in Gunning Shire, NSW
  
  op_055.pdf
  (11.12 MB)

The main aim of this Occasional Paper is to provide the background to the operations of this industry for consideration by the National Road Freight Industry Inquiry and other interested parties. The paper also identifies and reviews possible solutions to key problems confronting the industry.

• Overview of Australian Road Freight Industry: Submission to National Inquiry 1983
  
  op_059.pdf
  (9.37 MB)

This Paper deals with the operational characteristics of the Australian Road System and provides time series information to show changes over approximately the last decade in characteristics of the road system. The road system has been defined to include the road network, road users, vehicles and road user legislation while the operational characteristics of the road system have been defined as travel time, comfort and convenience, safety, vehicle operation and community effects.

• Assessment of the Australian Road System: Operational Characteristics
  
  ip_010.pdf
  (10.28 MB)

This report presents the results of a study of the Australian road system undertaken by the Bureau of Transport Economics in response to a direction by the then Minister for Transport in May 1982.

• Assessment of the Australian Road System: 1984–Part A
  
  report_056_partA.pdf
  (5.98 MB)

• Assessment of the Australian Road System: 1984–Part B
  
  report_056_partB.pdf
  (834.56 KB)