Glossary of terms
Empty running
The proportion of vehicle kilometres run
empty against total vehicle kilometres
Goods (tonnes) lifted
Measurement of freight activity in terms of the
weight of goods (tonnes) handled, taking no
account of the distance they are carried
Gross vehicle weight (gvw)
The maximum permissible weight of the
vehicle and its load
Load factor or lading factor
This is the ratio of what a lorry actually carries
(in terms of weight) compared with what it
could carry if it were loaded to its maximum
weight, weighted by the distance the lorry
covers while carrying any load
Own account
Goods vehicle operators who only carry goods
in the course of their own trade or business
Public haulage
Goods vehicle operators who carry goods for
other people for ‘hire or reward’
Roro
Roll on-roll off ferry and Channel Tunnel traffic
(powered vehicles and accompanied trailers)
Tonne kilometres
Tonne kilometres (goods moved) is a measure of
freight moved which takes account of the weight
of the load and the distance over which it is hauled.
For example, a load of 25 tonnes carried 100
kilometres represents 2,500 tonne kilometres
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