Sustainability

This measure is an indication of the sustainability of the NSW road freight fleet.

Freight impacts can have adverse noise and air pollution impacts, particularly on communities living in close proximity to major freight routes.

Diesel heavy vehicles and light trucks contribute disproportionately to particle and nitrogen oxide emissions. This is partly due to the large amount of fuel they consume and also the age of many freight vehicles - older vehicles are high emitters of fine particles.

Freight movements and operations can also have significant noise impacts. As well as reducing emissions, the use of electrically powered vehicles can also reduce noise impacts.

About the data

Dataset name: Sustainability
Data owner: Roads and Maritime Services
Operator Coverage: Private vehicles
Date range: 2016 onwards
Frequency: Annual

Description: This visualisation displays the average age of freight vehicles by year. As well as number of electric and hybrid freight vehicles registered in the NSW. Data for Quarter 4 for each year of analysis is used. 

Average age calculations are based on difference between vehicle manufacture date and current date.

For purposes of context the number of light trucks, prime movers and heavy trucks are also shown.

Definitions
  • Heavy Trucks are motor vehicles constructed for load carrying that weigh over 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass (GVM).
  • Prime Moves are the forward or hauling sections of articulated vehicles.
  • Heavy vehicles is the aggregation of heavy trucks and prime movers.
  • Light trucks are motor vehicles constructed for load carrying (including panel vans and utilities) that weigh up to 4.5 tonnes GVM.
  • GVM is the maximum laden weight at which the manufacturer recommends the vehicle be operated.
Limitations

The following caveats and limitation have been placed on this measures:

  • For vehicles manufactured between 1900 and 1949, a mid-point manufacture date of 1925 is assumed.
  • Unknown vehicles are excluded. 
  • Vehicles listed as having 'motive power' as electricity or electric/petrol are included in the count and calculated as a portion of the total vehicle fleet (respectively).
  • The page is updated annually but the source data is updated quarterly, with registration statistics available following a one-month lag (e.g. 2018 Q1 registration statistics will be facilitated in early May).
  • Heavy vehicles that travel interstate and are not registered in NSW are not captured in this measure.