A review of European truck tolling schemes and assessment of their possible impact on logistics systems

Abstract

Truck tolling schemes have been introduced in Switzerland, Austria and Germany. Britain was planning to launch a lorry road user charging (LRUC) system in 2008, though this has been indefinitely delayed. This paper reviews the various schemes and reveals wide differences in their objectives, coverage, technology, procedures and toll levels. The proposed British system would have been the most complex, allowing tolls to be varied by vehicle type, class of road, geographical area and time of day. The paper also assesses the possible effects of lorry road-user charging on a range of logistical variables, including system design, freight modal choice, truck utilisation, vehicle routing and the scheduling of deliveries. It shows how its logistical effects will depend on the nature of the tolling scheme and level of charges.

Keywords:

• Road tolling
• Trucks
• Europe
• Logistical impacts

Notes

^†The term “Maut” means toll in German. The tolling scheme is operated by Toll Collect GmbH, which is a joint venture of DaimlerChrysler Financial Services AG (45%), Deutsche Telekom AG (45%) and the French company, Cofiroute S.A. (10%).

^†The fact that the average payload weight has increased in Switzerland does not necessarily mean that the proportion of available carrying capacity actually utilised has risen significantly. Following the increase in maximum truck weight in the UK from 41 to 44 tonnes in 2001, this alternative index of utilisation actually declined (McKinnon 2005).

^†This average speed has been calculated by multiplying the mean speed achieved by articulated trucks of 40–44 tonnes gross weight on different road types by the corresponding proportions of kilometres run by these vehicles (Department for Transport 2005a).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alan C. McKinnon

Email: [email protected]