Road Freight Research
NP&A road surveys for transport research use a technique developed to enable market analysis, modal share and the movements of specific product groups. The system employs visual surveys by trained personnel, correlated with electronic data and has been used successfully all-over South Africa for over 14 years. The detailed data analysis covers vehicle types, dangerous goods, abnormal loads, estimates tonnage conveyed and analyses container movements.
The analysis of the road freight survey data is performed in a software programme developed in-house to give quick, accurate and complete analysis of all facets of the surveys performed. The data analysis produces a standardised set of ten comprehensive tabular analyses, supported by graphic illustrations of the data obtained.
The technique has been used for national, provincial, municipal, parastatal, corridor, and company traffic analysis, with data on hand providing useful insights into trends in Road Freight transport in Southern Africa.
ROAD SURVEYS PROGRAMME
Freight Vehicle Classifications
The freight vehicle classifications are based on a standardised classification that has been used in freight traffic surveys all over South Africa for approximately 15 years. The basic classifications by which all vehicles are recorded are:
Vehicle Groups – (defining vehicle configurations) This enable the estimation of tons conveyed
Vehicle Types – (defines body shape and duties)
Commodity Types – ( describes commodity categories)
Containers – (identifies the mix of containers carried )
Dangerous Goods – (records the DG classes by Hazchem labels)
Operators – (where identifiable) can be used for follow-up
Time and Direction – (time and direction of travel ) permits description of traffic flow and volumes
The classifications and categories are shown in the tables below.
Vehicle Groups (Configurations)
Vehicle Types
Commodities
Container Codes
Selection of routes and checkpoints
Compilation of the survey data for each checkpoint provides an overview of the major freight movements on the route. The calculation of tonnage and commodity movements is important in evaluating the potential for alternate modal transport and the impacts on road usage.
All the information received, is punched and processed from the input documents, at NP&A office to produce Data tables in standardised formats. This facilitates future replications of the surveys, by checkpoint location and route segment and the development of trend lines showing changes in the volumes and composition of freight traffic flows.
Port and Logistics Research – Other Modes
NP&A uses a pragmatic approach to transport research, which ensures that the information is based on hard data, recorded statistics and is factual and current.
NP&A has extensive experience of analysing the transport and logistics performance of various modes in South Africa and has a considerable library of statistical information regarding ports, container movements, rail transport, and other aspects of the total South African logistics environment.