Trends in road freight transport 1999-2007 – freight grew by 4% in 2007

EU-27 road freight transport grew by 4% in 2007 compared with 2006. Growth slowed during the year from 6% in the first quarter to 1% in the fourth. The five major economies, Germany, Spain, France, Italy and the United Kingdom dominated total and national transport. For international transport, Poland, the Netherlands and Romania followed Germany and Spain in the top five. Poland was the leading country for cross-trade, followed by Germany and Slovakia. For cabotage, Germany was in the lead, followed by Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium. Belgium, Austria, France and Denmark had cabotage penetration rates of more than 2%. Penetration rates in the 12 Member States that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007 were well below 1%.