Our highways seem like they’re getting busier every year, filled with trucks moving everything from your online shopping to the fresh produce at your local supermarket. And we can tell you, those observations aren’t just anecdotal — they’re backed by numbers that tell us a lot about where we’re headed with freight in Australia.
Road Freight: The Numbers
Think about those massive articulated vehicles you see on highways — they’re part of an ecosystem that keeps our economy moving 24/7. This is road freight in action, and it’s literally the backbone of how we get things from point A to point B in Australia.
The numbers tell quite a story. According to BITRE (they’re the folks who keep track of all things transport in Australia), we’re now pushing well past 200 billion tonne-kilometres in road freight, up from about 150 billion in the early 2000s. In plain English? We’re moving a lot more stuff by road than we used to.
While our roads are handling more freight than ever, they’re not the only method of transport. Alongside road freight’s steady rise, rail freight has seen even more dramatic growth, particularly since 2010, surging to over 400 billion tonne-kilometres. This suggests that while road freight remains essential to our supply chains, the future of Australian freight might need to be more diverse than ever before.
What makes road freight particularly interesting is its adaptability. We can use different types of vehicles depending on what needs moving — from small vans making local deliveries to massive refrigerated trucks keeping your groceries fresh on long-haul journeys. It’s this versatility that makes road freight the backbone of what we call last-mile delivery — getting products from distribution centres right to your doorstep.
And here’s something you might not have considered: road freight isn’t just about moving goods; it’s about timing, precision, and connecting every other part of the supply chain seamlessly.
How to Negotiate Road Freight Rates
If you are new to buying road freight or to negotiating road freight rates, this will really help you. Watch this:
Know your weight breaks and volumes:
- Understand how much freight you ship in different weight categories (e.g. half-tonne, 3-tonne, 5–10 tonne)
- Identify which weight breaks represent your highest volume of shipments
- For example, in the chart in the video, the 5–10 tonne weight break represented the largest volume
Be aware of common pricing tactics used by freight operators:
- They might offer very good rates for weight breaks you rarely use (like half-tonne or B-double loads)
- They might analyse your most common routes and offer better rates on less-used lanes to cross-subsidise
- Some may lazily copy quotes from similar companies rather than properly analysing your needs
- They might offer seemingly good discounts on weight breaks you rarely use whilst giving smaller discounts on your most common shipment sizes
Understand your transport lanes:
- Know your shipping volumes across different routes (referred to as “A–B pairs”)
- Understand which routes you use most frequently
- Be prepared with this information before negotiations
The key is ensuring you get the best rates for your highest-volume weight breaks and routes, rather than being distracted by attractive discounts on rarely used services — a good freight consultant can make sure you don’t leave money on the table.
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