Number of British trucks vehicles going to continent rises 5pc in 12 months

THE number of goods vehicles travelling from Great Britain to mainland Europe over 12 months ending June 30 increased five per cent year on year to 2.53 million trucks and trailers, according to Department of Transport.

However, the total was 13 per cent lower than the peak in 2007.

A breakdown of the latest statistics shows that 1.9 million were powered vehicles and 0.6 million were unaccompanied trailers. The number of powered vehicles was up by six per cent, but no change was seen in the volume of unaccompanied trailers, compared to the four quarters ending Q2/2012, reports a British International Freight Association (BIFA) newsletter.

In the second quarter of 2013, 676,000 goods vehicles travelled from Great Britain to mainland Europe, an increase of 11 per cent compared to the same period last year and the highest total since the third quarter of 2008.