Freight

Planning for freight transport's growth | Freight forum and operator survey | Overweight vehicles

Freight forum and operator survey

• Efficient movement of goods and services
• Community and business concerns
• Freight strategy actions

Efficient movement of goods and services

A key aspect of living in a growing, vibrant and urban city is the efficient movement of goods and services.

Auckland is the largest transport hub in New Zealand, catering for over 75 per cent of imports, 42 per cent of exports and the majority of international travel, through Auckland International Airport and Ports of Auckland, generating approximately 34 per cent of the country's national output. Ports of Auckland handles over 12 million tonnes in volume, including over 43 per cent of the country's container traffic, and imports approximately 140,000 vehicles a year.

The majority of freight is moved through Auckland city by road, rail and sea. Long haul trips are predominantly a mixture of sea, rail and road, while short haul trips are mainly confined to road.

The movement of freight within the Auckland region requires various transport modes to work together to meet supply and demand. Toll, who runs the majority of the rail freight industry, also has one of the largest  fleets of trucks in New Zealand.

Due to existing transport infrastructure, economic climate and land use patterns, a high proportion of freight movement occurs by road transport. Land use in Auckland city highlights the business zones and major industrial areas that generate and attract the highest number of freight trips. Freight movement is also generated in residential areas and town centres that require frequent delivery of goods and services, for example to supermarkets, retail and entertainment activities.

Community and business concerns

Significant consultation was undertaken in developing Auckland City's freight strategy, including industry surveys and open days at shopping centres and trade expos.

The major concerns voiced by the community in relation to the movement of freight relate to:

• the number of trucks on the road network
• truck crashes
• engine braking noise and emissions
• trucks using residential roads as a through route
• trucks parking in residential roads 
• freight transfer from road to rail.

Issues that were identified by the freight industry and businesses that affect whether future demands for freight movements can be met include:

• the completion of the strategic road network in the Auckland region
• the quality of road infrastructure
• geometric designs that do not account for the physical characteristics and limitations of larger vehicles
• lack of communication and consultation with the freight industry on roading improvements
• operational delays due to restrictions and limitations in infrastructure, for example lack of loading facilities and reduction in trip rates because of increased levels of congestion
• increased cost of production and final products.

Freight strategy actions

Freight forum group

To achieve the aims and objectives of the strategy, Auckland City developed a freight forum group.

The forum, which meets regularly through the year, brings together industry, freight operators, users, local government and the community to engage and work together so that all views are taken into account in the decision making process.

The forum looks at issues in a holistic manner taking into account the different needs of residents and businesses.

One of the roles of the forum is reviewing traffic management investigations on local roads, such as Orakei Road, that receive a high volume of through traffic.

Local area freight management

Part of the strategy involves producing plans for the management of freight in local areas.

Working alongside the local business association, a Local Area Freight Management Plan is being created for Rosebank business precinct. This considers a number of issues, combining both transport and economic objectives, such as improving the times when freight is transported, the needs of the freight industry and roading improvements to improve the flow of freight traffic.

Local area freight management plans have been developed successfully overseas, for instance in the United Kingdom.

Email us if you would like:

• more information or a copy of the freight operator survey
• a copy of Auckland city's freight strategy in full version or the summary version.