Early in 1984 the Bureau of Transport Economics carried out a survey of trucking operations, primarily to assist the National Road Freight Industry Inquiry in its data collection activity. This Paper describes the survey and sets out its major findings. Both road transport (for hire and reward) and ancillary operators were covered, with particular attention being given to the ownerdrivers. The main aim of the survey was to collect information on the structure of commercial truck activity in Australia including administrative, operational and equipment details. Certain limited road freight task related information and income data were also collected. In terms of business activity, the survey covered the 1982–83 financial year.

• Survey of Trucking Operations 1982–83: Methodology and Results
  
  op_075.pdf
  (7.18 MB)

This Report provides an assessment of the status of the Australian Road System and an examination of its future funding requirements. Roads are divided into the categories recognised by Commonwealth road funding legislation: National Highways (16050 kilometres); rural arterials (89600 kilometres); urban arterials (15400 kilometres); local roads (677400 kilometres).

• Assessment of the Australian Road System
  
  report_061.pdf
  (13.67 MB)

• Assessment of the Australian Road System–Summary Report
  
  report_061_summary.pdf
  (1.02 MB)

The Royal Commission into Grain Storage, Handling and Transport, was established on 13 October 1986. One of the objectives of the Commission is to investigate the efficiency with which grain is transported in Australia. To this end the Commission sought submissions from interested parties. The Federal Bureau of Transport Economics (BTE) has prepared this Paper in response to that request.

• Competition and Regulation in Grain Transport: Submission to Royal Commission, May 1987
  
  op_082.pdf
  (9.91 MB)

This Information Paper details the costs of road crashes in Australia for 1988. Costs have been grouped into three broad categories: loss of victim; crash generated activities; and pain and suffering.

• Costs of Road Crashes in Australia–1988
  
  is_001.pdf
  (215.02 KB)

Decisions on road reconstruction and rehabilitation are based on a combination of engineering, economic, financial and social considerations. Rigorous analysis in support of such decisions is necessarily extremely complex. At an aggregate level, however, it is clear that the possession of an asset (such as a road network) whose components are subject to deterioration and have finite lives imposes a maintenance requirement if the quality and value of the asset is to be preserved.

• Pavement Age and the Future Need for Road Reconstruction
  
  op_089.pdf
  (4.65 MB)

Efficient road pricing is required both to generate funds which may be used for roadworks and to ration the use of what is an expensive asset. The important elements of road pricing theory are outlined and these indicate that both the structure and level of charge are important in rationalising road use and optimising the role of road transport in our modern economy.

• Review of Road Cost Recovery
  
  op_090.pdf
  (14.21 MB)

The cost of road accidents is an important and controversial issue. However, it is difficult to derive an acceptable measure of these costs, and it has been some years since an attempt has been made to quantify these costs to Australia. This Paper presents a discussion of the methodologies used to produce estimates of the cost of road accidents (or the value of reducing their number), focusing on the major issues of contention, and provides estimates for Australia for the year 1985.

• Cost of Road Accidents in Australia
  
  op_091.pdf
  (7.4 MB)

This supplementary Information Paper details the social costs of road crashes in Australia for 1988. Estimates of the social cost of road crashes, reflects not only on the costs borne by crash victims, but also those costs imposed on the wider community.

• Costs of Road Crashes in Australia–1988: Supplementary Information
  
  is_002.pdf
  (202.54 KB)

This paper contains revision of some data for earlier years as well as statistics for 1985–86 and 1986–87. The paper presents a broad analysis of expenditure and revenue statistics, indicating the major trends in, and patterns of, road expenditure for each level of government in each State.

• Australian Road Financing Statistics 1977–78 to 1986–87
  
  ip_033.pdf
  (10.26 MB)

This paper provides a simple method for evaluating alternative strategies for road pavement construction and maintenance using a life cycle costing approach.

• Pavement Management: Development of a Life Cycle Costing Technique
  
  op_100.pdf
  (3.86 MB)