Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Road freight data collection consists of three datasets with quarterly periodicity:
Vehicle related variables dataset for a sample of road good motor vehicles contain, among others, indication about the type and age of the vehicle, the economic activity of the owner of the vehicle, the total kilometres loaded or empty.
Journey related variables dataset which contain, among other indications about weight of goods, regions of loading and unloading, distance driven, and tonne-kilometres performed during a journey.
Goods related variables dataset which contain among others the type of goods transported, their weight and distance travelled, regions of loading and unloading.
3.2. Classification system
Statistics on carriage of goods by road apply the following statistical classifications:
The optional variable type of cargo follows the Classification of Cargo Types of UNECE (United Nations, Economic Commission for Europe - codes for types of cargo, packages and packaging materials, Recommendation 21 adopted by the Working Party on Facilitation of International Trade Procedures, Geneva, March 1986).
3.3. Coverage - sector
Statistics produced on the basis of Regulation (EU) No 70/2012 cover the following road freight transport operations by heavy goods vehicles registered in Greece whose load capacity is over 3.5 tonnes:
Commercial road freight transport (NACE Rev.1.1 I6024; NACE Rev.2 H494), referred to as "Hire or reward" road freight transport.
Road freight transport by private vehicles and by vehicles owned by companies classified in other classes than professional road freight transport. This kind of transport is identified as "Own account" road freight and it covers transport operations by manufacturing industry, construction, trade and other companies.
The survey does not cover:
a) goods road transport vehicles whose authorized weight or dimensions exceed the limits normally permitted in the Member States concerned and
b) agricultural vehicles, military vehicles and vehicles belonging to central or local public administrations, with the exception of goods road transport vehicles belonging to public undertakings, and in particular railway undertakings.
A goods road motor vehicle is any single road transport vehicle (lorry), or combination of road vehicles, namely road train (lorry with trailer) or articulated vehicle (road tractor with semi-trailer), designed to carry goods.
Registered vehicle is the state of having been entered in a register of road transport vehicles, kept by an official body in a Member State. In the case of carriage by means of a combination of road transport vehicles, the complete vehicle shall be deemed to be registered in the country where the goods road transport vehicle is registered. Cross-trade is international road transport between two different countries performed by a road motor vehicle registered in a third country. National transport is road transport between two places (a place of loading and a place of unloading) located in the same country by a vehicle registered in that country. International transport is road transport between two places (a place of loading and a place of unloading) in two different countries and cabotage by road. It may involve transit through one or more additional country or countries. Transit is any loaded or empty road motor vehicle, which enters and leaves a country at different points by whatever means of transport, provided the total journey within the country is by road and that there is no loading or unloading in the country. Goods carried by road are any goods moved by goods vehicle.
Load capacity is the maximum weight of goods declared permissible by the competent authority of the country of registration of the vehicle. When the goods road transport vehicle is a road train made up of a lorry with trailer, the load capacity of the road train is the sum of the load capacities of the lorry and the trailer. Place of loading/unloading of a goods road vehicle on another mode of transport.
Place of loading (of the goods road transport vehicle on another mode of transport): The place of loading is the first place where the goods road motor vehicle was loaded on to another mode of transport (usually a ship or a rail wagon).
Place of unloading (of the goods road transport vehicle from another mode of transport): The place of unloading is the last place where the goods road motor vehicle was unloaded from another mode of transport (usually a ship or a rail wagon).
Distance traveled is the actual distance excluding the distance covered by the goods road transport vehicle while being transported by another means of transport.
Types of journey 1) laden journey involving one single basic transport operation 2) laden journey involving several transport operations, but not considered as a collection or distribution round, 3) laden journey of the collection or distribution round type, 4) unladen journeys.
3.5. Statistical unit
The reporting unit for road freight transport statistics is the goods road transport vehicle as described in 3.3.
3.6. Statistical population
The total number of goods vehicles registered in Greece whose load capacity exceed 3.5 tonnes (as described in 3.3). The number for 2024 was 88,555 goods vehicles.
3.7. Reference area
The data provided are for goods vehicles registered in Greece uniquely. Data cover the whole Country.
NUTS 1 for great geographical areas
NUTS 2 for Regions
NUTS 3 for Departments (Nomoi)
3.8. Coverage - Time
From 2004 onwards. Data are produced on a quarterly basis covering the whole year.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Data are collected in units for population varialbes (eg. trucks), in tonnes for variables corresponding to weight, tonne-kilometres and vehicle-kilometres for variables representing goods and vehicles transport operation and in number of journeys (journey data).
Reference year: 2024
Road freight transport data are collected on a quarterly basis. The sample is equally distributed in the four quarters of the year and the thirteen weeks of each quarter. Each vehicle is surveyed during a specific week of the year, Monday to Sunday. Aggregated results are presented for each year. Reference period of transmitted data to Eurostat is each quarter of a reporting year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
National level:
Law 3832/2010 (Government Gazette No 38, Issue Α): "Hellenic Statistical System Establishment of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) as an Independent Authority", as amended and in force
Regulation on the Operation and Administration of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), 2012, (Government Gazette No 2390 B, 28 August 2012)
Regulation on the Statistical Obligations of the Agencies of the Hellenic Statistical System (Government Gazette No 4083 B, 20 December 2016)
Greek Commitment on Confidence in Statistics (Government Gazette 40 A, 29 February 2012)
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, on European statistics, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2015/759
European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP), revised edition 2017
The legal framework concerning the organization and operation of ELSTAT is available on the ELSTAT website.
Commission Regulation (EC) 642/2004 of 6 April 2004 on precision requirements for data collected in accordance with Council Regulation (EC)1172/98 sets out the precision requirements for the data that the reporting countries submit to Eurostat.
Commission Regulation EC 2163/2001 of 7 November 2001 concerning the technical arrangements for data transmission for statistics of carriage of goods by road gives a detailed description of the data sets that the reporting countries submit to Eurostat.
Commission Regulation (EU) 202/2010 of 10 March 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 6/2003 concerning the dissemination of statistics on the carriage of goods by road.
Commission Regulation (EC) 6/2003 of 30 December 2002 concerning the dissemination of statistics on the carriage of goods by road lists explicitly the road freight data that can be disseminated.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 833/2007 of 16 July 2007 ending the transitional period provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1172/98 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road (Text with EEA relevance) ends the transitional period for incomplete regional coding at the end of 2007.
Commission Regulation (EC) No1304/2007 of 7 November 2007 establishes NST 2007 as the unique goods classification for road freight and other transport statistics.
Regulation (EC) No 399/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 amended Council Regulation No 1172 as regards the committee procedure.
Commission Regulation (EU) No 520/2010 of 16 June 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 831/2002 concerning access to confidential data for scientific purposes as regards the available surveys and statistical data sources.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
National level :
ELSTAT provides all non-confidential data at aggregated level, through the tables that are published on its webpage.
From Eurostat :
Eurostat submits annually semi-aggregated data (data exchange tables, see Commission Regulation (EU) No 202/2010 amending the Commission Regulation (EC) 6/2003) back to the reporting countries so that they can compile the total road freight transport on their national territories, including the operations by national hauliers and also those of all other reporting countries.
These data exchange tables include more detailed breakdowns than the publicly available tables. They also include, for each value, the information on the number of observations that the estimates are based on. In this way, the reporting countries can estimate the reliability of results that they aggregate from the data exchange tables.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
National level:
The issues concerning the observance of statistical confidentiality by ELSTAT are arranged by articles 7,8 and 9 of the Law 3832/2010 as in force, by Articles 8, 10 and 11(2) of the Regulation on Statistical Obligations of the agencies of the Hellenic Statistical System and by Articles 10 and 15 of the Regulation on the Operation and Administration of ELSTAT.
European level:
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Right to access the data collected for road freight transport statistics has exclusively only the staff of ELSTAT employed for that purpose and designated by act of the President of ELSTAT. The receipt, storage and processing of data by ELSTAT is carried out by implementing strict security and personal data protection rules, in accordance with ELSTAT’s Circular on the Information Systems Security Policy and Digital Data Protection.
ELSTAT takes all necessary measures for the protection of confidential data, from the collection of data to its publication.
All road freight micro-data are treated as confidential. This means the following:
data transmission from the reporting countries to Eurostat takes place in encrypted format using the eDAMIS data transmission tool
dissemination of data can only take place if the value is based on more than 10 vehicle records (see Commession Regulation (EC) 6/2003, Article 3(1)).
8.1. Release calendar
The release date of the survey results is stipulated in ELSTAT's Announcement Calendar.
ELSTAT protects and does not disseminate the data it has obtained, or it has access to, which enable the direct or indirect identification of the statistical units by the disclosure of individual information directly received for statistical purposes or indirectly supplied from administrative or other sources. ELSTAT takes all appropriate preventive measures so as to render impossible the identification of individual statistical units by technical or other means which might reasonably be used by a third party. Statistical data that could potentially enable the identification of the statistical unit are disseninated by ELSTAT if and only if:
a) These data have been treated, as specifically set out in the Regulation on the Statistical Obligations of the ELSS agencies, in such a way that their dissemination does not prejudice the statistical confidentiality.
b)The statistical unit has given its consent, without any reservations, for the disclosure of data. ELSTAT may grant researchers, conducting statistical analyses for scientific purposes, access to data that enable the indirect identification of the statistical units concerned. The access is granted provided the following conditions are satisfied:
i) an appropriate request together with a detailed research proposal in conformity with current scientific standards have been submitted;
ii) the research proposal indicates in sufficient detail the legitimate purpose of the research, the set of data to be accessed, the methods of analysing them, the persons who will have access to the data and the time needed for the research;
iii) a contract specifying the conditions for access, the obligations of the researchers, the measures for respecting the confidentiality of statistical data and the sanctions in case of breach of these obligations has been signed by the individual researcher, by his / her institution, or by the organization commissioning the research, as the case may be, and by ELSTAT.
Beside the tables published under the link: Statistics> Industry, Trade, Services, Transport>Road Transport there are no other data for this survey in ELSTAT’s database.
Eurostat's online Database is the most complete and most up-to-date source of EU road freight transport statistics. Other publications (Statistics in Focus etc.) are based on data extracted from the Database.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Microdata are available upon request to: Data Dissemination Section of Statistical Information and Publications Division, Pireos 46 & Eponiton str., GR-18510, Piraeus
This publication also contains data on response rates, vehicle registers' quality, sampling rates and statistical errors in surveys carried out.
A detailed presentation of the recommended methodology is published in Road freight transport methodology Reference manual for the implementation of Council Regulation 1172/98.
A methodological note is available on the website of the Hellenic Statistical Authority.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
There are two main sources of information on the quality of road freight data:
Methodologies used in surveys of road freight transport in member states and candidate countries contains data on response rates, vehicle registers' quality, sampling rates and statistical errors in surveys carried out. It also reports on the simplifications used, by the reporting countries, in data collection.
The Data Monitoring folder of the Road library of CIRCA Transport Forum includes frequently updated information on data availability and country specific notes. The Methodology section of the same forum includes, among other things, information on Precision calculation results. Every three years, the Commission reports on the implementation of this Regulation to the European Parliament and the Council. This report evaluates in particular the quality of the transmitted statistical data, data collection methods, as well administrative burdens for Member States and beneficiaries.
11.1. Quality assurance
ELSTAT follows Eurostat's methodological guidelines in order to assure data of good quality. Several data quality checks are being applied during the production process.
The quality of EU road freight statistics is ensured based on the following 6 principles: 1. Reporting countries should use similar methods and definitions in order to produce qualitative data. However, the sample design, the assurance of an adequate response rate and the survey is the responsibility of the reporting countries. 2. The statistical error (percentage standard error) of micro-data transmitted to Eurostat shall not be greater than 5% (special conditions apply to smaller countries, see Regulation (EC) 642/2004). 3. In addition, reporting countries shall regularly inform Eurostat of the national characteristics of their data collection. This information is published as part of the quality documentation. 4. Eurostat validates incoming micro-data by applying detailed validation checks as described in Chapter 12 of the Road Freight Transport Methodology. 5. Eurostat performs regularly micro-data precision calculations to verify the compliance of reporting countries with Commission Regulation 642/2004. The results of the precision calculations are shared with the users of the data through the CIRCA Transport Forum. 6. Comparisons studies are carried out to determine the potential bias in road freight data by comparing results with other independent data sources (Cross-Alpine survey, transit channel statistics and toll data).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Road Freight Transport Statistics are compiled in accordance with the recommendations that are provided in the relevant European Regulation.
The survey meets all the criteria of consistency, comparability, accuracy and punctuality.
The three main tools for assessing the quality of aggregate data on road freight transport are: Methodological comparisons with national surveys and recommended methodology, including survey coverage, case simplification, register quality, sampling fraction and response rate. Precision calculations in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) 642/2004. Comparative assessment. The goal is to keep data users informed about all these issues through methodological manuals, country- specific notes and the results of precision calculations and comparisons.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Road Freight Transport Statistics are provided to users for the satisfaction of their requests, in accordance with the Statistical Confidentiality Policy and the Dissemination Policy of ELSTAT. The main national users are researchers, economic analysts, doctoral candidates, students, Universities and enterprises. At international level Eurostat, International Transport Forum and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe are the main users.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The degree of satisfaction of users is assessed by their comments and remarks expressed:
a) at the annual Users’Conferences organized by ELSTAT,
b) at the meetings of the Advisory Committee of the Hellenic Statistical System (SYEPELSS), in which participate representatives of bodies using statistics and
c) through the User Satisfaction Survey conducted by the competent Statistical Data Dissemination Section of ELSTAT.
12.3. Completeness
Road Freight Transport Statistics in Greece cover the total set of variables defined by the relevant Regulation of the European Union.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The survey is conducted on a quarterly basis. The sample design aims to minimize sampling errors. The sample is equally distributed into the thirteen weeks of a quarter. Every vehicle is surveyed during a specific week of the year, from Monday to Sunday. The sample is selected on the basis of various criteria: the vehicle performing national or international road freight transport; the vehicle being for private or for public use; class of load capacity; type of chassis; registered office of the vehicle, etc. The questionnaires are processed and the data are produced in line with rules and guidelines laid down in the relevant Manual of Eurostat.
13.2. Sampling error
1. Where the methods used by Member States in compiling the data involve sample methodology, the percentage standard error (95 % confidence) of the annual estimates for tones transported, tonne-kilometres performed and total kilometers travelled loaded for total goods road transport and for national goods road transport shall not be greater than ± 5 %.
2. Where the total stock of goods road motor vehicles relevant to the survey in a Member State is less than 25 000 vehicles, or the total stock of vehicles engaged in international transport is less than 3 000 vehicles, the percentage standard error (95 % confidence) of the annual estimates for tones transported, tonne-kilometres performed and total kilometrestravelled loaded for total goods road transport and for national goods road transport shall not be greater than ± 7 %.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Coverage error: There is no coverage error.
Over-coverage rate: There is no over-coverage rate.
No information is collected from administrative sources.
Measurement error: These errors are rare because the data are compared with the Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport registry.
Non-response error: For 2024 the non-response rate is 38% of the total.
Every effort is made to improve the information provided to private partners (interviewers) in order to locate the units under investigation. They attend a seminar where guidance is provided on how best to approach people interviewed.
Processing Error: No processing errors have been detected at the final stage of the data collection process.
Model assumption error: No models are used for estimation.
14.1. Timeliness
Data are normally updated once per quarter.
If new annual data (all four quarters of a calendar year) have become available, the annual datasets are also updated together with the quarterly datasets.
14.2. Punctuality
Road freight data are transmitted to Eurostat within 5 months after the end of the reference period, as specified in the Regulation (EU) 70//2012.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Road freight transport statistics are compiled in full compliance with the European Regulation (EC) No 70/2012, a fact that ensures the comparability of the data of Greece with the respective data of the other countries of the EU. The errors, due to comparability issues, are estimated on the basis of table B1 of Regulation 642/2004.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Time series of data as requested by EU Regulation 70/2012 exist since 2011.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Road freight statistics according to Regulation (EC) 70/2012 are different from those of other transport modes. However if needed comparisons with data from other surveys relevant to transportation can be performed.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Coherence among variables is compared in all stages of the statistical process. The aggregates are always consistent with their main sub-aggregates.
In 2024, for data collection the payment cost of private contractors and employees travel expenses amounted approximately to 43,175 Euros.
The burden for the people interviewed is relevant to the time spent for the completion of the questionnaire and depends on the amount of information given.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The Data revision - policy applied in all ELSTAT’ s surveys is available on the ELSTAT website.
17.2. Data revision - practice
If necessary ELSTAT proceeds to data revision based on Eurostat’s guidelines and EU Regulation 70/2012.
The data have been revised regarding the number of road freight vehicles registered in Greece that carry out international transports during the reference quarter for the period 2016-2020.
18.1. Source data
Sampling register used for the survey
Name of register:
Vehicle Register
Name of organisation who maintains the register:
Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport
Frequency of update:
Continuous
Frequency of access to draw the samples:
Once a year
Arrangements for accessing the register:
Once in a year, according to the stratification plan of the sample, a copy of the circulating goods road motor vehicles on 31st December is obtained from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
Information obtained from the register:
Name, address, use of vehicle, maximum permissible laden weight, load capacity, type of vehicle, type of body, axles, year of national registration and registration number.
The same register is used for the vehicles performing international transport and the data are updated with information from previous surveys.
Procedure for reminders:
The survey is conducted through interviewers who are entrusted with the task to contact the vehicle owner until the end of the survey’s collection phase.
The efforts are focused on the improvement of the information of the register (as regards contact details) and the monitoring of the work of the interviewers.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data are collected thoughout the whole year covering all time periods.
18.3. Data collection
Sampling methodology
Statistical unit: Tractive vehicle
Types of units excluded: Vehicles with load capacity less than 3.5 tonnes and less than 6 tonnes of maximum permissible weight, military vehicles, vehicles of public administration and agricultural tractors.
Time unit:1 week
Time units of quarter 1 of 2024 included in the survey: All (13 weeks)
Stratification:
The following information concerning stratification variables and codes used is provided.
Firstly the vehicles are separated in (by estimation):
Those conducting national journeys
Those conducting international journeys
For vehicles conducting national journeys, the strata are defined by:
1. The geographical division (NUTS 1)
1. VOREIA ELLADA (North Greece)
2. KENTRIKI ELLADA (Central Greece)
3. ATTIKI (Attica)
4. NISIA AIGAIOU, KRITI (Aegean Islands and Crete)
2. The use of the vehicle (in Greece a vehicle can have a permission for private or public use):
1. Hire or Reward (Public use)
2. On Own Account (Private use)
3. The type of the vehicle:
1. Lorries with load capacity 3.5 - 7.9 tonnes
2. Lorries with load capacity 8 - 12.9 tonnes
3. Lorries with load capacity greater than 13 tonnes
4. Tank-trucks and lorries with specific ‘body’
5. Tractors
For vehicles conducting international journeys, the strata are also defined by the geographical division (NUTS 1). Note that for those vehicles, the type of the truck is coded as 6.
As the vehicles of a large company (operating on a 24/7 basis) had a significant impact on the results, a new stratum was created (coded as 7) and is surveyed exhaustively. The data of this stratum are treated as confidential.
Recording of journey data sent to Eurostat:
Single stop: Respondents can record only one type of goods, i.e. goods of largest weight. If no type of goods is dominant then ‘miscellaneous’ is used.
Multi stop: Multi-stop journeys are coded by consignments.
Collection/delivery: For short distance journeys of type 3 (collection/delivery) with more than five points of loading and/or unloading, the respondent is not asked for the details of all the stops, but is asked about the number of stops, the distance travelled loaded and the distance travelled unloaded, the total weight transported and the main type of good (as in type 1).
Calculation of weighting factors:
Weighting factor = 13 * N / (S + S')
N = number of vehicles in the register (in a stratum)
S = number of questionnaires used in analysis (in A1 dataset)
S’ = number of vehicles for which no activity was recorded, but vehicles could be considered as active (holiday, no work, etc.)
Additional (optional) variables collected compared to the legal requirements:
Environmental impact-related variables:
Information on type of fuel and fuel consumption could be provided in the future but it should be considered as core variable in order to be collected.
A1. Vehicle-related variables:
possibility of using vehicles for combined transport (YES)
vehicle operator’s NACE Rev. 2 at class level (four-digit level) (YES)
vehicle empty kilometres (YES)
A2. Journey-related variables:
axle configuration according to the nomenclature defined in the Regulation on road transport statistics (YES)
place of loading, if any, of the road transport vehicle on another means of transport (YES)
place of unloading, if any, of the road transport vehicle from another means of transport (YES)
degree of loading: situation ‘fully loaded’ (procedure 2) or ‘not fully loaded’ (procedure 1) of the goods road transport vehicle during the journey in question, in terms of maximum volume of space used during the journey (procedure 0 = by convention for unladen journeys) (YES)
A3. Goods-related variables:
type of freight (Cargo types) as defined in the Regulation (YES)
Main figures
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Total number of relevant goods vehicles in the country
96,611
95,139
93,611
89,121
91,479
88,555
Number of vehicles selected for initial sample and questionnaires dispatched to vehicle owners
7,269
7,997
8,153
8,256
8,465
8,516
Number of cases where no vehicle activity was recorded during the sampled period but the vehicle could be considered as part of the active stock
701
967
640
682
969
771
Number of cases classified as non-respondents
2,514
3,067
3,475
3,066
3,904
3,236
Number of cases where sample register information was wrong and response could not be used
658
451
335
299
384
349
Number of questionnaires used in analysis
3,396
3,512
3,703
4,209
3,208
4,160
18.4. Data validation
National level :
Completed questionnaires are collected, coded and checked by the staff of the Hellenic Statistical Authority. Data are then entered into a database, where they undergo computing, logical and completeness checks.
From Eurostat :
Since 1999, micro-data from the reporting countries have to be submitted according to Commission Regulation 2163/2001. The data are then checked and validated by EUROSTAT (verification of many different codes used (NUTS 3, numeric or alphabetic variables) correctness of linked questionnaires in the different dataset, etc…). Detected errors are then reported back to the data sender with the request for correction, this is an iterative process until at least 99.5% of all data records are validated and loaded in the database.
18.5. Data compilation
Completed questionnaires are collected, coded and checked by the staff of the Hellenic Statistical Authority. Missing data are filled in if possible and wrong data are corrected. If needed company and vehicle registers are updated. Data are then entered into a database, where they undergo computing, logical and completeness checks. Statistical tables are produced that are also being checked for their consistency and data are compared with those of previous month and previous years.
18.6. Adjustment
The survey is carried out throughout the year and there is no seasonal adjustment for road freight data.
No comment.
Road freight data collection consists of three datasets with quarterly periodicity:
Vehicle related variables dataset for a sample of road good motor vehicles contain, among others, indication about the type and age of the vehicle, the economic activity of the owner of the vehicle, the total kilometres loaded or empty.
Journey related variables dataset which contain, among other indications about weight of goods, regions of loading and unloading, distance driven, and tonne-kilometres performed during a journey.
Goods related variables dataset which contain among others the type of goods transported, their weight and distance travelled, regions of loading and unloading.
A goods road motor vehicle is any single road transport vehicle (lorry), or combination of road vehicles, namely road train (lorry with trailer) or articulated vehicle (road tractor with semi-trailer), designed to carry goods.
Registered vehicle is the state of having been entered in a register of road transport vehicles, kept by an official body in a Member State. In the case of carriage by means of a combination of road transport vehicles, the complete vehicle shall be deemed to be registered in the country where the goods road transport vehicle is registered. Cross-trade is international road transport between two different countries performed by a road motor vehicle registered in a third country. National transport is road transport between two places (a place of loading and a place of unloading) located in the same country by a vehicle registered in that country. International transport is road transport between two places (a place of loading and a place of unloading) in two different countries and cabotage by road. It may involve transit through one or more additional country or countries. Transit is any loaded or empty road motor vehicle, which enters and leaves a country at different points by whatever means of transport, provided the total journey within the country is by road and that there is no loading or unloading in the country. Goods carried by road are any goods moved by goods vehicle.
Load capacity is the maximum weight of goods declared permissible by the competent authority of the country of registration of the vehicle. When the goods road transport vehicle is a road train made up of a lorry with trailer, the load capacity of the road train is the sum of the load capacities of the lorry and the trailer. Place of loading/unloading of a goods road vehicle on another mode of transport.
Place of loading (of the goods road transport vehicle on another mode of transport): The place of loading is the first place where the goods road motor vehicle was loaded on to another mode of transport (usually a ship or a rail wagon).
Place of unloading (of the goods road transport vehicle from another mode of transport): The place of unloading is the last place where the goods road motor vehicle was unloaded from another mode of transport (usually a ship or a rail wagon).
Distance traveled is the actual distance excluding the distance covered by the goods road transport vehicle while being transported by another means of transport.
Types of journey 1) laden journey involving one single basic transport operation 2) laden journey involving several transport operations, but not considered as a collection or distribution round, 3) laden journey of the collection or distribution round type, 4) unladen journeys.
The reporting unit for road freight transport statistics is the goods road transport vehicle as described in 3.3.
The total number of goods vehicles registered in Greece whose load capacity exceed 3.5 tonnes (as described in 3.3). The number for 2024 was 88,555 goods vehicles.
The data provided are for goods vehicles registered in Greece uniquely. Data cover the whole Country.
NUTS 1 for great geographical areas
NUTS 2 for Regions
NUTS 3 for Departments (Nomoi)
Reference year: 2024
Road freight transport data are collected on a quarterly basis. The sample is equally distributed in the four quarters of the year and the thirteen weeks of each quarter. Each vehicle is surveyed during a specific week of the year, Monday to Sunday. Aggregated results are presented for each year. Reference period of transmitted data to Eurostat is each quarter of a reporting year.
The survey is conducted on a quarterly basis. The sample design aims to minimize sampling errors. The sample is equally distributed into the thirteen weeks of a quarter. Every vehicle is surveyed during a specific week of the year, from Monday to Sunday. The sample is selected on the basis of various criteria: the vehicle performing national or international road freight transport; the vehicle being for private or for public use; class of load capacity; type of chassis; registered office of the vehicle, etc. The questionnaires are processed and the data are produced in line with rules and guidelines laid down in the relevant Manual of Eurostat.
Data are collected in units for population varialbes (eg. trucks), in tonnes for variables corresponding to weight, tonne-kilometres and vehicle-kilometres for variables representing goods and vehicles transport operation and in number of journeys (journey data).
Completed questionnaires are collected, coded and checked by the staff of the Hellenic Statistical Authority. Missing data are filled in if possible and wrong data are corrected. If needed company and vehicle registers are updated. Data are then entered into a database, where they undergo computing, logical and completeness checks. Statistical tables are produced that are also being checked for their consistency and data are compared with those of previous month and previous years.
Sampling register used for the survey
Name of register:
Vehicle Register
Name of organisation who maintains the register:
Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport
Frequency of update:
Continuous
Frequency of access to draw the samples:
Once a year
Arrangements for accessing the register:
Once in a year, according to the stratification plan of the sample, a copy of the circulating goods road motor vehicles on 31st December is obtained from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
Information obtained from the register:
Name, address, use of vehicle, maximum permissible laden weight, load capacity, type of vehicle, type of body, axles, year of national registration and registration number.
The same register is used for the vehicles performing international transport and the data are updated with information from previous surveys.
Procedure for reminders:
The survey is conducted through interviewers who are entrusted with the task to contact the vehicle owner until the end of the survey’s collection phase.
The efforts are focused on the improvement of the information of the register (as regards contact details) and the monitoring of the work of the interviewers.
In Greece road freight data are disseminated by announcements on a quarterly and yearly basis after they have been validated by Eurostat.
Quarterly data are disseminated to Eurostat within 5 months after the end of the reference period.
Aggregated results are disseminated once a year no longer than twelve months after the end of the reference period.
Data are normally updated once per quarter.
If new annual data (all four quarters of a calendar year) have become available, the annual datasets are also updated together with the quarterly datasets.
Road freight transport statistics are compiled in full compliance with the European Regulation (EC) No 70/2012, a fact that ensures the comparability of the data of Greece with the respective data of the other countries of the EU. The errors, due to comparability issues, are estimated on the basis of table B1 of Regulation 642/2004.
Time series of data as requested by EU Regulation 70/2012 exist since 2011.
