KBA (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt)

Referat 33

Sachgebiet 331 - Güterkraftverkehrsstatistik deutscher Lastkraftfahrzeuge

Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt
24932 Flensburg DEUTSCHLAND

Statistics on the carriage of goods by road give information about the laden and empty journeys performed by heavy goods vehicles registered in Germany. It includes vehicle-, journey- and goods-related variables gathered by vehicle- and time-related sample surveys. Data collection, data processing and data dissemination is done by the provisions of national and European legal acts.

National level:

• Gesetz über die Statistik für Bundeszwecke (Bundesstatistikgesetz – BStatG)

• Gesetz über die Statistik der See- und Binnenschifffahrt, des Güterkraftverkehrs, des Luftverkehrs sowie des Schienenverkehrs und des gewerblichen Straßen- Personenverkehrs (Verkehrsstatistikgesetz – VerkStatG)

• Gesetz über die Errichtung eines Kraftfahrt-Bundesamtes (KBA, KBAG)

The Federal Statistics Act (BStatG) provides the general terms for statistical surveys, such as the handling of statistical data or, the implications when answering a questionnaire is neglected. The national Transport Statistics Act (VerkStatG) stipulates the terms in detail for the statistics on carriage of goods by road, such as responsibilities or sample size. The national legal act on the Establishment of the Federal Motor Vehicle Transport Authority (KBAG) pictures the position of the Authority KBA within the federal government and provides its tasks, among others “Other National Authority” (ONA) for road freight statistics.

EU level:

• Regulation (EU) No 70/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 January 2012 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road (recast)

• Commission Regulation (EC) No 2163/2001 of 7 November 2001 concerning the technical arrangements for data transmission

• Commission Regulation (EC) No 642/2004 of 6 April 2004 on precision requirements

• Commission Regulation (EC) No 6/2003 of 30 December 2002 concerning the dissemination

• Commission Regulation (EU) No 557/2013 of 17 June 2013 on access to confidential data for scientific purposes

Road freight data transmitted to Eurostat consists of quarterly data in three datasets (according to Regulation (EC) No 642/2001):

1. Vehicle related dataset
contains, among others, variables about the type and age of the vehicle, the total kilometers loaded or empty performed by the vehicle; not included are the optional variables A1.1 (possibility of using vehicle for combined transport) and A1.6 (activity class of the vehicle operator)

2. Journey related dataset
contains, among others, type of journey and type of transport, size of vehicle/vehicle-combination in use, region of loading/origin and unloading/destination, weight of goods transported, distance travelled and tonne-kilometers performed during the journey

3. Goods related dataset
contains, among others, type of cargo, type of goods transported and their weight as well as distance travelled, regions of loading and unloading of goods and, if applicable, of vehicle of another means of transport.

Supplementary table B1 (according to Regulation (EC) No 642/2004), monitoring metadata of the sample survey, is also transmitted to Eurostat on a quarterly basis.

Statistics of road freight transport by German heavy goods vehicles apply the following statistical classifications:

• The type of goods transported by road was collected, until reference year 2009 (included), according the "Standard Goods Classification for Transport Statistics/Revised (NST/R)", (see the RAMON classification server on Eurostat's web site). For data transmission to Eurostat till 2007 (includes) the type of goods was coded to 24 groups (SAEG) and from 2008 to 2009 it was coded to the 20 NST 2007 division in Annex IV of Regulation (EU) No 70/2012. For code convertion to NST 2007-divisions a converting key was applied which was developed by NSA for all national transport statistics (see also “Einheitliches Güterverzeichnis für die Verkehrsstatistik – 2007”). Since 2010 data collection follows the “Standard goods classification for transport statistics (NST 2007)”.

• The regional coding is done in conformity with European legislation: "NUTS Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics" (see also NUTS).

• Economic activity class of the vehicle owner is an optional variable. According to national legislation (VerkStatG) the data is picked from the administrative database of all registered vehicles in Germany (Zentrales Fahrzeugregister). The code does not give the full four-digit NACE classification but aggregated NACE-divisions, therefore the variable is not transmitted to Eurostat (variable A1.6). Until 2002 (included) the code was based on NACE Rev. 1 and 2003 - 2008 (included) the code was based on NACE Rev. 1.1, from 2009 onwards it is based on NACE Rev. 2 (Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community, Rev. 2 (NACE Rev. 2)").

• Type of dangerous goods is a mandatory variable, but it is reported only for those goods that fall into this category. The classification is based on "European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road", Chapter 2.1, as published in Annex V of Regulation (EU) No 70/2012. Directive 2008/68/EC makes reference to ADR as regards the transport of dangerous goods by road. In Germany up to 5 dangerous goods per journey can be reported. Till 2014 (included) only one (most important dangerous good per journey) was transmitted to Eurostat. From 2015 onwards up to 5 dangerous goods can be transmitted to Eurostat.

• The type of cargo is an optional variable. From 2008 onwards coding 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).

Statistics on road freight transport cover the following road freight transport operations by heavy utility vehicles (lorries and road tractors for semi-trailer) designed for the transportation of goods which are registered in Germany:

• Commercial road freight operations, referred to as "Hire or Reward".

• Road freight operations by private vehicles and by vehicles owned by companies classified in other classes than professional road freight transport; This kind of road freight transport is identified as "Own account" and it covers operations by the manufacturing industry, construction, trade and other companies.

Not covered are operations by heavy utility vehicles of categories N2 and N3 (see Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council) which are

• not designed for the transportation of goods such as

-          Special purpose lorries (BA16, BA19, BA20, BA23, BA25, BA26, BA27, BA28, BA31)

-          Tractors (BD)

-          Mobile crane (SF)

• vehicles of public administrations,

• vehicles which are over 30 years of age (from 2015 onwards).

Also not covered are operations by light lorries up to 3.5 tonnes (including) weight capacity or up to 6 tonnes (including) maximum permissible laden weight (if weight capacity is not present).

The main concepts used in road freight statistics of German heavy goods vehicles are as follows.

A goods road motor vehicle is any single road transport vehicle (lorry, road tractor for semi-trailer), or combination of road vehicles, namely road train (lorry with trailer) or articulated vehicle (road tractor with semi-trailer), designed to carry goods.

National transport is road freight operation between two places (a place of loading/origin and a place of unloading/destination) located in the same country by a vehicle registered in that country.

International transport is road freight operation between two places (a place of loading/origin and a place of unloading/destination) in two different countries and cabotage by road. It may involve transit through one or more additional country or countries.

International dispatch is road freight operation between two places (a place of loading/origin and a place of unloading/destination) in two different countries whereas the place of loading/origin is located in the same country where the operating vehicle is registered.

International receipt is road freight operation between two places (a place of loading/origin and a place of unloading/destination) in two different countries whereas the place of unloading/destination is located in the same country where the operating vehicle is registered.

Cross trade is international road freight operation between two different countries performed by a road motor vehicle registered in a third country.

Cabotage is international road freight operation between two places (a place of loading/origin and a place of unloading/destination) located in the same country performed by a vehicle registered in another country.

Transit is any operation of a 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 road goods vehicle. If more than one goods commodity is carried, the most important commodity is reported (upmost weight). From reporting period 2015 on up to 5 dangerous goods are reported in up to 5 separate A3-data records.

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): On a journey the first place where the goods road 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): On a journey the last place where the goods road vehicle was unloaded from another mode of transport (usually a ship or a rail

wagon).

Basis transport operation in Germanyis the journey and in case of multi-stop journeys the vertical stage.

In case of single stop journeys (journey type 1) it is the displacement of a single class of goods from a place of origin, in which the merchandise is loaded, to one of destiny, in which it is discharged. For so-called "empty operations" (journey type 4) it is, the displacements made without goods between a place of unloading/origin and another of loading/destination. In case of multi-stop journeys (journey type 2) it is the displacement between the first place of loading and the last place of unloading derived from the recorded vertical stage data. In case of collection/delivery journeys (journey type 3) it is the displacement between the first place of loading/unloading and the last place of loading/unloading.

The statistical unit in Germany is the vehicle-half-week, as data is collected by means of vehicle- and time-related sample surveys. All journeys of the selected motor vehicle starting in the respected half-week are to be reported.

The total vehicle population of German heavy goods vehicles designed for the transportation of good includes currently about 550,000 vehicles (lorries and road tractors for semi-trailer).

This comprises lorries of more than 3.5 tonnes load capacity or 6 tonnes maximum permissible laden weight (if weight capacity is not present) as well as the road tractors for semi-trailer.

Not included are heavy utility vehicles of categories N2 and N3 (see Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council) which are
• not designed for the transportation of goods such as
- Special purpose lorries (BA16, BA19, BA20, BA23, BA25, BA26, BA27, BA28, BA31)
- Tractors (BD)
- Mobile crane (SF)
• vehicles of public administrations,
• vehicles which are over 30 years of age (from 2015 onwards).

Also not included are light lorries of categories N1 and N2 up to 3.5 tonnes weight capacity or up to 6 tonnes of maximum permissible laden weight (if weight capacity is not present).

The data provides information of the transport operations performed by German heavy road goods vehicles regardless of wherever territory they occur.

Data collection and dissemination in Germany started in reference year 1994. Data collection and transmission to Eurostat according to Council regulation (EC) No 1172/98 started with reference year 1999.

Base period of national German road freight statistics is one month of the reporting year.

Base period of transmitted data to Eurostat is one quarter of the reporting year.

Unit of measure in German road freight statistics data is the journey.

For every single journey or vertical stage (in case of multi-stop journey) data are collected for goods weight (kilogram) and vehicle-kilometres (kilometre) from which transport performance (tonne-kilometres) or journey-related data (in case of multi-stop journey) are calculated.

Journey type 1 (single stop):

Variable A2.2 = Weight of goods transported on the journey (weight)

Variable A2.5 = Distance travelled on the journey (distance)

Variable A2.6 = A2.2 * A2.5 (transport performance)

Journey type 2 (multi-stop): The measures for the journey are calculated from vertical stage data.

Variable A2.2 = A2.6 / A2.5 (weight; weighted average)

Variable A2.5 = Sum of distances travelled on all vertical stages (distance)

Variable A2.6 = Sum of each stages product of “kg” * “km” (transport performance)

Variable A3.2 = A2.2 (weight)

Variable A3.7 = A2.5 (distance)

Journey type 3 (collection/delivery)

Variable A2.2 = Maximum weight of goods transported on the journey (weight; maximum)

Variable A2.5 = Distance travelled on the journey (distance)

Variable A2.6 = A2.2 * A2.5 (transport performance)

Variable A3.2 = A2.2 (weight)

Variable A3.7 = A2.5 (distance)

Basic reference period of German road freight data is one month of the reporting year. National publications may include aggregated time periods such as quarter or year.

Reference period of transmitted data to Eurostat is one quarter of a reporting year. 

Responsibilities concerning the statistics of road freight transport in Germany are assigned by national legal acts as well as an agreement with the “National Statistical Agency” (NSA).

• Gesetz über die Statistik der See- und Binnenschifffahrt, des Güterkraftverkehrs, des Luftverkehrs sowie des Schienenverkehrs und des gewerblichen Straßen- Personenverkehrs (Verkehrsstatistikgesetz – VerkStatG);

-     “Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt” (KBA) maintaining the administrative database of all registered vehicles in Germany is as „Other National Authority“ (ONA) responsible for data collection in sample surveys and data processing (§ 27 (2) VerkStatG) as well as for data dissemination (§ 29 (1) VerkStatG).

-     Methodological issues have to be done in agreement with NSA (§ 27 (4) VerkStatG).

-     “Bundesamt für Güterverkehr” (BAG) is responsible for launching penalty procedures of non-responders (§ 31 VerkStatG).

• “Memorandum of Understanding” between NSA and KBA (ONA) to govern cooperation on the basis of ESS.

• Gesetz über die Errichtung eines Kraftfahrt-Bundesamtes (KBAG);

-     “Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt” (KBA) is responsible to compile complete statistics on road transport operations on German territory (§ 2 (3) KBAG).

In Germany arrangements for data sharing between data producing agencies are stipulated by legal act.

National level:

• Gesetz über die Statistik der See- und Binnenschifffahrt, des Güterkraftverkehrs, des Luftverkehrs sowie des Schienenverkehrs und des gewerblichen Straßen- Personenverkehrs (Verkehrsstatistikgesetz – VerkStatG);

-     Licence plate number and addresses of vehicle owners are to be transmitted from the administrative database of German vehicles for processing data collection (§ 9 (1) VerkStatG)

-     Vehicle-related data of German vehicles (motor vehicles and trailers) are to be picked from the administrative database of all registered vehicles in Germany (§ 9 (1) VerkStatG).

-     Data may be forwarded to federal government and higher state authorities exclusively for purposes of planning and legislative procedures (§ 28 (1) VerkStatG).

-     Data may be forwarded to NSA for purposes of methodological enhancement of road freight statistics, for data presentation on all transport modes or in regard of supra-national and international issues (§ 28 (2) VerkStatG).

-     National data dissemination (§ 29 (1) VerkStatG):
-     Free download of data on both websites of NSA and KBA (ONA).
-     Upon request individual data in respect of statistical confidentiality and statistical precision  (contract, reimbursement of costs).

EU level:

• Regulation (EU) No 70/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 January 2012 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road (recast)

• Commission Regulation (EC) No 2163/2001 of 7 November 2001 concerning the technical arrangements for data transmission

• Commission Regulation (EC) No 6/2003 of 30 December 2002 (dissemination)

• Commission Regulation (EU) No 557/2013 of 17 June 2013 (scientific use file)

Measures which prevent unauthorised disclosure of German road freight data is stipulated by legal acts and guidelines for data dissemination.

National level:

• Gesetz über die Statistik der See- und Binnenschifffahrt, des Güterkraftverkehrs, des Luftverkehrs sowie des Schienenverkehrs und des gewerblichen Straßen- Personenverkehrs (Verkehrsstatistikgesetz – VerkStatG);

-     disposal of survey documents at least 3 months after publishing the monthly results (§ 10 VerkStatG)

-     auxiliary variables are available for conducting the survey only (§ 25 VerkStatG)

-     statistics has to be done by persons in facilities separated from other duties of the authority (§ 27 VerkStaG)

• Gesetz über die Statistik für Bundeszwecke (Bundesstatistikgesetz – BStatG)

-     definition of survey and auxiliary variables which have to be treated differently (§ 10 BStatG)

-     auxiliary variables have to be isolated and eliminated (§ 12 BStatG)

-     rules for data merging to get information without additional surveys (§ 13a BStatG)

-     safeguard of statistical confidentiality (§ 16 BStatG)

-     ban of re-identification of individual information (§ 21 BStatG)

• Measures for data dissemination

-     Guidelines for data dissemination concerning the level of detail of variables in respect of confidentiality, statistical precision and data integrity

-     NSA-document with fundamentals of sample scheme for road freight statistics (“Grundzüge des Stichprobenplans für die Straßengüterverkehrsstatistik”)

EU 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.

To ensure statistical confidentiality and prevent unauthorised disclosure the following rules are applied in Germany.

• Data collection and data processing:

-     Questionnaires are returned to the authorised stuff only; no information from the survey is merged with other duties of KBA (ONA)

-     Questionnaires are shredded depending on monthly data release

-     Auxiliary variables are not part of the  core data

• Data dissemination:

-     Minimum number of units in disseminated aggregates (see “Grundzüge des Stichprobenplans für die Straßengüterverkehrsstatistik”; Article 3 of Commission regulation (EC) No 6/2003 )

rules for crossing goods and regions (see Guidelines for data dissemination)

An advance release calendar that shows the expected release dates for upcoming publications is annually updated on KBA's (ONA’s) website. Users may also subscribe to a feed in order to receive publications.

https://www.kba.de/DE/Statistik/produkte_der_statistik_pdf.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=101

In Germany road freight data is available for everybody and disseminated simultaneously according to the publication schedule through its publication on KBA's (ONA’s) website. All users have free access. Publication of key figures on KBA’s (ONA’s) website is the signal to the public, that data is available. Thus dissemination in an objective, professional and transparent manner shall be assured. Only after that signal interested parties may receive data tailored to their specific needs. KBA (ONA) cooperates with/provides data to the NSA and provides other (federal) government agencies with data if needed.

All disseminated information is accessible by the public as well, thus professional independence shall be assured.

Main results of road freight statistics are available free of charge to all users. Users may commission individual statistics that are charged depending on intended use (i.e. commercial) and professional background (i.e. discounted charge for academic purposes under certain limitations).

In Germany road freight data is released on the base of a monthly reporting period.

-     Monthly key figures and time series are updated on KBA's (ONA’s) website roughly three to five months after the reference period.

-     More detailed data (monthly, yearly) may be published later according to the release calendar.

-     For future releases for national dissemination, the schedule is intended to follow a release date closer to between three and four months after the end of the reference period.

Quarterly data is disseminated to Eurostat within 5 months after the end of the reference period.

In Germany there are currently no regular press releases on road freight transport statistics.

In Germany the data on road freight transport statistics are published on KBA's (ONA’s) website, according to the release calendar.

For national publications concerning the survey of road freight transport of German vehicles a precision calculation is done for all table cells (number of sampling units, sampling error). As the sample survey in Germany is based on vehicle and time, the basic sampling unit is the vehicle-half-week (cases).

Only those results are published which are considered as sufficiently reliable. If the sampling error is too large (relative single sampling error > 20%) or if the number of cases contributing to the result is too small (number of cases ≤ 35), the result is not published, which is indicated by a slash “/” in the table cell. All the other results are shown in the publication. If, however, the reliability is deemed as limited, the result is put into parentheses “( )”. This occurs if the number of cases is > 35 and ≤ 50 or if the sampling error is > 10% and < 20%. Calculating a rate of change based on results in brackets will hardly produce sufficiently reliable figures. Respective values will be thus be replaced with a slash "/" as well.

The set of rules for the dissemination of results can be visualized as follows:

In Germany KBA (ONA) provides NSA with road freight transport data for use in the data base GENESIS (Access via page "Themen" › "46 Transport und Verkehr" › "46231 Straßengüterverkehrsstatistik"). It is planned to provide data in the national mCloud (national open data initiative).

For access to SUF users are referred to the European database at Eurostat.

In Germany customized road freight data is disseminated upon request only after the publication of key figures and in respect of statistical confidentiality and statistical precision mostly using CSV or xls-Format.

Methodology on German road freight statistics is disseminated as follows.

National level:

-     Methodological manual (pending revision, dissemination on request)

-     Methodological notes are published and updated if necessary

-     Publications with detailed tables include a short description of methodological issues as well as qualifying footnotes

EU level:

-     National characteristics of surveys, conducted in the reporting countries in 2017, were published in Methodologies used in surveys of road freight transport in Member States, EFTA and Candidate Countries. This latter publication also contains data on response rates, vehicle registers' quality, sampling rates and statistical errors in surveys carried out in 2016.

-     Country specific notes are communicated via eDAMIS to Eurostat

• Quality on road freight statistic data in Germany is documented as follows.
• Statistical process

-          Statistical requirements on quality of the sample are documented with the tool ARIS,

-          Changes in process management is documented with the tools JIRA and Confluence

-          Quality indicators (Qualitätskennzahlen, Fehlercodes) concerning process and data quality are determined and documented during the statistical process and stored in the core database

-          Key figures are continuously analysed and documented (process control)

-          Evaluation of detailed quality indicators is still pending (probably 2023)

-          Quality report shall be prepared (probably 2023)

• Statistical precision of disseminated data

-          Precision calculation is done for all tables cells in national publications.

-          Precisions rules for disseminated results are published in the methodological notes.

-          Precision calculation is done and documented with the tool SPSS .

Quality assurance of road freight statistics in Germany includes the following aspects.

• Statistical process

-          Analysis of key figures such as statistical population, sample size (regularly updated), strata, questionnaires dispatched and returned, sampling units in one reference month (process control)

-          Analysis of in depth quality indicators is still pending.

• Data quality

-          Validation checks of the variables in the questionnaire (consecutive journeys, verification of value range and consistence to other variables); in case of open questions the respective respondent is contacted.

-          Validation checks after merging data from questionnaire and vehicle-related data from administrative database of registered vehicles; correction according to former checked variable “transported weight”.

-          Analysis of differences to other monthly data for every month under report. Descriptive statistics are used to analyze irregularities and time series trends and developments.

-          Precision calculation (number of vehicles, sampling error) for all tables cells in national publications. In case of irregularities further analyses have to be done before data release.

Sampling error of German road freight statistics data is within the thresholds of Article 2 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 642/2004.

The survey is subject to Eurostat's quality assessment: methodological comparisons, precision calculations and benchmarking.

Key users of German road freight transport statistics are NSA, statistical offices, Federal Ministries, Eurostat, government agencies, research and scientific community, enterprises and journalists.

Most requested information is about regional traffic flows of goods. In some cases special individual questions concerning transport issues at that time under discussion evoke special analyses.

Measures to determine user satisfaction concerning road freight statistics in Germany are as follows.

-     User needs are currently derived from user questions and requests for individual analysis.

-     Currently no user survey is conducted. First user survey is already a long time ago.

-     Meetings of transport interest groups with key users of German road freight transport statistics such as the national transport statistical committee (organized by NSA).

The survey of road transport statistics of German vehicles provides all the information required by the national and international legal acts. Dissemination of detailed results is done in respect of statistical confidentiality and statistical precision.

Road freight data in Germany is derived from sample surveys. The overall accuracy meets the requirements in Article 2 of Commission regulation (EC) No 642/2004.

Precision calculation (number of vehicles, sampling error) is done for all table cells in national publications. If the precisions requirements are not fulfilled, data publication is done under restrictions or neglected. 

The standard percentage error (95% confidence) of annual estimates for tonnes transported, tonne-kilometres performed and total kilometers travelled loaded is less than 5% for total goods road transport and for national goods road transport.

Precision calculation (number of vehicles, sampling error) is done for all table cells in national publications. If the precisions requirements are not fulfilled, data publication is done under restrictions or neglected.

For German road freight statistics data several controls are carried out throughout the whole process.

Coverage:

The sample includes roughly 180.000 vehicles per year in Germany drafted in a total of 13 sample series. Flyback results indicate a response rate of about 93 %. Approximately 67% have responded providing journey data. The register quality is around 95 %.

Survey instrument and interviewer:

An entire unit is dedicated to answer any questions arising from the interviewees responding to the questionnaire. Aid is usually provided via phone.

One has to assume that due to the large volume of questionnaires sent out throughout the year, some individuals and/or companies have taken to online-forums or personal/professional contacts discussing ways to avoid being drafted for the sample/answering the questionnaire. This worrying trend is being closely monitored.

Unit (non)response including causes for nonresponse and measures to reduce nonresponse:

Questionnaire flyback is closely monitored to spot alarming developments early on and to ensure that proper remedies are initiated as soon as possible.

A web-based questionnaire has been gaining user acceptance. It is assumed that for most interviewees the process is easier to follow on the internet.

Data editing, coding and imputation

Imputations are treated very carefully and systematically. They are (mostly) adjusted to the carried weight of goods.

Currently monthly road freight statistics data of German vehicles is updated roughly three to five months after the reference period. Time lag is mainly due to data collection process (deadlines, one reminder, verification and validation).

Currently monthly publications of German road freight statistics meet the expected date of the release calendar.

Currently quarterly data is transmitted to Eurostat within 5 months after the end of the reporting period, as specified in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 70/2012.

In German road freight statistics geographical areas are coded and recorded according to the NUTS version valid at that time. Changes in NUTS codes evoke restrictions in comparability. After the end of the transitional period (reference years 1999 – 2007) full regional coding for international transport within the EEA is done (since reference year 2008) according to Article 1 of Commission regulation (EC) No 833/2007.

Overall results of German road freight data are well comparable over time as there are no basic methodological changes. Though some variables have been adjusted mainly since reporting year 2008:

-     Type of cargo/freight (optional variable A3.4) is not available for 2002 (Q3 and Q4) and for 2003 due to inconsistencies.

-     Maximum permissible laden weight (variable A1.4): data transmission to Eurostat was shifted from technical maximum laden weight (till reporting year 2003) to maximum permissible laden weight (since reporting year 2004). Due to IT changes results for reporting years 2015 to 2019 as well as first quarter 2020 should be considered as preliminary. Revised data is to be expected in due course.

-     Type of cargo/freight (optional variable A3.4): starting with reference year 2008 data transmission to Eurostat was shifted for swap-bodies from “other freight containers” (Code 3, till 2007) to “Large freight containers” according to UN recommendation 21 (Code 2 since 2008).

-     Type of goods (variable A3.1) was collected till reference year 2009 (included) according to NST/R. For data transmission to Eurostat it was coded according to the 24 SAEG-groups (till 2007). For 2008 to 2009 it was codes to the 20 NST 2007-devision applying a converting key developed by NSA for all national transport statistics which might induce inaccuracies for this reference years. Since reporting year 2010 data collection follows NST 2007.

-     Journey type 2: Since reporting period 2008 Germany uses simplification for multi-stop journeys. Starting with reference year 2008 data transmission to Eurostat was shifted from vertical stages in dataset A3 (till 2007) to one record in dataset A3 (since 2008).

Type of dangerous goods (A3.3): starting with reference year 2015 data transmission to Eurostat was shifted from transmitting only one (most important good per journey till 2014) to up to 5 records (since 2015).

Maximum permissible laden weight (variable A1.4): data transmission to Eurostat was shifted from technical maximum laden weight (till reporting year 2003) to maximum permissible laden weight (since reporting year 2004). Due to IT changes results for reporting years 2015 to 2019 as well as first quarter 2020 should be considered as preliminary. Revised data is to be expected in due course.

Road freight statistics according to Regulation (EC) 70/2012 are different from those of other transport modes and the most important characteristics are that the values are estimates based on sample surveys and that each reporting country reports on its hauliers' operations all over the world, not just on the territory of the reporting country. As domestic transport is the main field of activity the estimates for international transport of German vehicles come along with lower statistical precision. This has to be taken into account comparing results of mirror statistics.  

Coherence among variables is compared in all stages of the statistical process. The aggregates are always consistent with their main sub-aggregates.

NSA identifies costs and burden according to “standard cost model”. It takes the respondents about 30 minutes to complete the questionnaire.

The sampled population is to answer the questionnaire in a truthful and exhaustive manner. There is no financial compensation. A given statistical unit (tractive vehicle; by means of license plate/vehicle) is intended to be selected for the sample at most only once per sample year. There are some exceptions to the rule that are related to changes/updates in the register used for sampling.

Guidelines and general principles, developed by NSA, are leading the data revision policy in order to deal with changes in value of statistical data released to the public. These are

-     Umgang mit Veröffentlichungsfehlern (VöFe-Richtlinie, 2013)

-     Allgemeine Revisionspolitik der Statistischen Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (2017): Statistikübergreifende Grundsätze zur Revision von veröffentlichten statistischen Ergebnissen

For national German road transport statistics no preliminary data is published.

In national German road freight statistic revised data are flagged, users are informed of the changes and methodological notes are added, if appropriate.

Data to be transmitted to Eurostat underlies quality checks to a degree of certainty that should prevent necessary revisions. Key document in regard of quality checks is the “Road freight transport methodology handbook” (Eurostat, 2012) which gives in Chapter 12 detailed validation rules to each variable. If a revision should be necessary the full datasets A1-A2-A3 are retransmitted.

Statistical data of road transport performed by German heavy goods vehicles is based on time- and vehicle-related sample surveys.

Sampling source

As administrative database of nationally registered vehicles, the register is located and maintained in a unit which is totally distinct from the statistical domain. Data access is legitimated by national legal act and strictly limited to the variables given in the law. Data access is logged and carried out via webservice.

Sampling from the register is  carried out in accordance with the sample and stratification plan which is designed in cooperation with NSA (Federal Statistical Office).

Information obtained from the register

Information for stratification:address of the vehicle owner, owner group, region of registration, type of vehicle, load capacity.

Information to conduct the survey:licence plate number, name and address of the vehicle owner, maximum permissible laden weight, load capacity, type of vehicle and body type, owner group.

Information to relieve the burden of respondents:date of first registration of the vehicle, maximum permissible laden weight, load capacity, engine power, number of axles, type of vehicle and body type, region of registration (Bundesland), owner group, exhaust emissions class.

Questionnaire as source for journey data

A questionnaire is sent to every drawn vehicle owner or the vehicle user, if notified. If the questionnaire is not returned in time one reminder is sent. If the answer is still missing after the deadline of the reminder a penalty procedure is launched.

Vehicle weighting

To get full results from individual data questionnaire returns are checked and weighting is done for monthly data.

Source data of road transport performed by German heavy goods vehicles is

-          drawn every 4 weeks from the up-to-date administrative database of vehicles (central register).

-          gathered continuously with the questionnaire, covering all time periods.

-          allocated to monthly source data of journeys.

Statistical data collection for road transport performed by German heavy goods vehicles is designed as time- and vehicle-related stratified sample surveys (questionnaire) covering all time periods.

Every four weeks one stratified sample series of vehicles covering 8 half-weeks is drawn.

Vehicle unit

Heavy lorries (more than 3.5 tonnes load capacity or 6 tonnes maximum permissibly laden weight, if load capacity is not present) and road tractors for semi-trailers designed for the carriage of goods.

Time unit

Half a week (either Sunday 22 o’clock to Wednesday 24 o’clock, or Thursday 0 o’clock to Sunday 22 o’clock).

Stratification of vehicles

Stratification is done in 5 hierarchical steps, 72 strata are distinguished:

1st level:       Fleet size (2 classes)

2nd level:      Owner group (2 categories)

3rd level:      Region of vehicle registration (6 categories)

4th level:      Vehicle class (2 classes)

5th level:      Vehicle size of lorry (2 classes)

Number of stratum for vehicles

First digit: Region of registration (grouped NUTS 1)

1: Ostsee: Schleswig-Holstein (DEF), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (DE8)

2: Nordsee: Bremen (DE5), Hamburg (DE6), Niedersachsen (DE9)

3: Nordrhein-Westfalen (DEA)

4: Mitte: Hessen (DE7), Rheinland-Pfalz (DEB), Saarland (DEC)

5: Ost: Berlin (DE3), Brandenburg (DE4), Sachsen (DED), Sachsen-Anhalt (DEE), Thüringen (DEG)

6: Süd: Baden-Württemberg (DE1), Bayern (DE2)

Second digit: Owner features (registered economic activity and fleet size in the population)

Owner group “Transportation and storage”

1: fleet up to 5 vehicles

2: fleet of more than 5 vehicles

Other owner groups

3: fleet up to 5 vehicles

4: fleet of more than 5 vehicles

Third digit: Vehicle features (vehicle class and size)

Owner group “Transportation and storage”

0: road tractor

1: lorry; load capacity of 3.501 tonnes to less than 11.500 tonnes

2: lorry; load capacity of 11.500 tonnes and more

Other owner groups

0: road tractor

3: lorry; load capacity of 3.501 tonnes to less than 9.500 tonnes

4: lorry; load capacity of 9.500 tonnes and more

Sampling methodology

All together about 180,000 vehicles are drawn every year in 13 sampling series. Knowledge from previous surveys is used to optimize the sample size of every stratum and to increase the precision of the sample results. Therefore, the allocation of the sample size across the strata is not done only proportionally but by regarding the expected sampling error of the central variable „transported tons“. Hence the sampling fraction is not the same for each stratum as it is for a proportional sampling ratio (disproportionally stratified sample, verified about every two years). If possible the sampling rate is increased in strata where the variance among the units is large and it is reduced where the variance is smaller. This results in higher sampling rates for the vehicles of certain strata. In order to reduce the statistical burden of small and medium sized companies, strata representing a small fleet get a lower sampling ratio. Sampling starts always with a random number, selected vehicles are flagged, so each vehicle can be chosen only once a year. If possible, vehicles from previous year are not drawn (spreading of burden). By consecutive numbering the selected vehicles from 1 to 8 the reporting period is assigned, thus obtaining approximately equal distribution over time.

Survey methodology

Questionnaires are being sent out weekly for two reporting periods of a half-week at the time. Thus the questionnaire gets to the respondent close to the reporting period (about 10 days ahead). If the vehicle owner is not the user, after notification a questionnaire is sent soonest possible to the user. As a response obligation exists the deadline is checked weekly (about 12 days after the end of the reporting period). If the questionnaire remained unanswered, one reminder is sent. If the reminder remains unanswered as well, a penalty procedure is launched. Response can be made either by online-questionnaire (available since the end of 2006) or by paper-questionnaire. A hotline is installed.

Questionnaire

All journeys starting in the respective reporting period are to be reported in consecutive order of occurance. Collection/delivery journeys and shuttle journeys are being reported in a simplified manner. In case of multi-stop journeys all vertical-stages are to be reported.

Estimations for the vehicle-km (or performance) not covered by the survey:

Estimation of vehicle-km can be done using odometer readings from road worthiness tests for motor vehicles. Thereafter the estimation for vehicle-km of all light-duty lorries (up to 6 tons maximum permissible weight, including vehicles not designed for freight transport) comes up to about 54.6 thousand millions km in 2019. 

Main figures 

All questionnaires for German road freight statistics are being monitored. Coding, validation of coupled characteristics and value ranges is supported by interactive plausibility checks.

Variables with numerous codes (e.g. places of loading and unloading, commodity) are coded in the office as it is assumed that it is too burdensome for the respondent to select the appropriate code and errors of coding couldn‘t be identified afterwards in the office. Periodic checks are done to ensure that questionnaires have been verified consistently and correctly. Badly filled questionnaires are done by especially trained and skilled staff. In cases of missing values (item non-response) respondent is contacted.

Merged data from questionnaire and administrative database of vehicles are validated in respect to former checked variable “transported weight” (40 % overload is accepted) as well as to the validation rules in chapter 12 of the handbook “Road freight transport methodology”. Identified inconsistences are flagged. Errors are corrected, warnings are checked carefully. Imputation is done for vehicle size if register data is marked as incorrect. 

For road transport performed by German heavy goods vehicle the following operations are performed to derive new information in according to the given rules.

Calculation of weighting factors:

The calculation of the grossing factor is done on a monthly basis (not quarterly) in two steps. At first each series is extrapolated considering missing answers in stratum using multiplicative completion. In a second step a monthly and stratum adaptation to the current stock data is done. Since the survey period may cover two different months the vehicle day is the unit for the adaptation instead of the survey period.

The grossing factor for the journeys of a vehicle, that belongs to a stratum h, drawn in series i, with journeys in month j is as follows:

Mhj should be correctly identified using a daily count of each stratum of the vehicle register and in adding in each stratum the results of all days in the month. For practical reasons a good approximation is made multiplying the stock made up of stratum on the 15th of each month with the length of the month in days (i.e. 28, 29, 30 or 31). The method of extrapolation with the monthly adaptation to the actual stock of vehicles allows including estimates for the registration of new vehicles between the date of the sample drawing and the reference period. Missing answers are also estimated. Under the assumption that missing answers in each stratum occur at random the additional estimation of missing answers does not cause any bias.

 The weighting factor is affected by the following items:

• Reporting period not congruent with quarter

The initial sample of one sample series (vehicle sample stratified by 72 strata) covers a reporting period of 8 half-weeks (time-related sample).

•  Reminder

One reminder, send to non-responders, gives a new reporting period. The new reporting period can be in another quarter.

• Monthly grossing up

As the number of relevant vehicles in the database changes continuously and there is a time difference between sampling and reporting period a monthly adjustment factor is calculated as part of the weighting factor.

As data is collected continuously in sample series with time-units of a half-week a reference period of one quarter is covered by 27 half-weeks (from 5 sample series). As one vehicle may report in two different months and grossing up is done monthly these vehicles have different grossing factors in each month and are reported as different A1-records. So the number of A1-records is higher than the selected vehicles in the initial sample. As “grossing up factor used” varies within strata and number of A1-records is related to “grossing up factor used” Germany provides table B1 since reporting period 2015 (including) in two tables as agreed by e-mail of 16 December 2016. Table B1a gives the information about the initial sample and table B1b gives the number of A1-data records.

Measures according to journey type

For every single journey or vertical stage (in case of multi-stop journey) data are collected for goods weight (kilogram) and vehicle-kilometres (kilometre) from which transport performance (tonne-kilometres) or journey-related data (in case of multi-stop journey) are calculated.

Journey type 1 (single stop):

Variable A2.2 = Weight of goods transported on the journey (weight)

Variable A2.5 = Distance travelled on the journey (distance)

Variable A2.6 = A2.2 * A2.5 (transport performance)

Journey type 2 (multi-stop): The measures for the journey are calculated from vertical stage data.

Variable A2.2 = A2.6 / A2.5 (weight; weighted average)

Variable A2.5 = Sum of distances travelled on all vertical stages (distance)

Variable A2.6 = Sum of each stages product of “kg” * “km” (transport performance)

Variable A3.2 = A2.2 (weight)

Variable A3.7 = A2.5 (distance)

Journey type 3 (collection/delivery): Journeys up to around 30 km distance with several points of loading and/or unloading

Variable A2.2 = Maximum weight of goods transported on the journey (weight; maximum)

Variable A2.5 = Distance travelled on the journey (distance)

Variable A2.6 = A2.2 * A2.5 (transport performance)

Variable A3.2 = A2.2 (weight)

Variable A3.7 = A2.5 (distance)

Road freight data of German heavy goods vehicles are not seasonally adjusted.

Revided information containing vastly expanded details on methodology.