Goods transport by road: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: Goods transport by road
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
The statistics on goods transport by road describe the transport activity of lorries registered in Finland for private and licensed transport in Finland and abroad. The data are collected with an inquiry from holders of lorries and published quarterly.
Sector coverage (SIMS 3.3)
The statistics are based on a sample survey. The sample is drawn from the transport register of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom. The sample is divided into eight strata according to the use of lorry (private/licensed), type of lorry and total weight category. The data of the statistics are based on the data obtained as responses to the sample survey on lorry trips during the survey period. The sample is weighted into professional trailer combinations because the significance of these lorries is highest in estimating transport performance.
Statistical unit (SIMS 3.5)
The statistical unit is a journey made by a lorry.
Statistical population (SIMS 3.6)
The population of the statistics is formed by lorries registered in Finland with a total weight of over 3.5 tonnes. Excluded from the survey are military vehicles and lorries that are not primarily intended for goods transport (e.g. museum vehicles and special vehicles). Lorries registered in Åland are not included in the statistics. The statistical unit is a lorry.
The statistics are based on a sample survey. The sample is drawn from the transport register of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom. The sample is divided into eight strata according to the use of lorry (private/licensed), type of lorry and total weight category.
Reference area (SIMS 3.7)
The data for the statistics are produced on the level of the whole country. The most important data are produced on the level of regions. The municipality level is only possible in special cases with combined annual data.
Time coverage (SIMS 3.8)
Statistics Finland has been producing statistics on goods transport by road since 1995. As of the beginning of 2011, the statistics on goods transport by road have been compiled by a revised methods in respect of both domestic and international transport. The data concerning domestic transport for the years 2001 to 2010 have been recalculated with the new method. The data are not comparable with previously released data calculated with the old method.
Unit of measure (SIMS 4)
The measurement unit of volume of goods is tonne, the measurement unit of traffic performance kilometre, the measurement unit of transport performance is tonne-kilometre.
Reference period (SIMS 5)
The statistics are published quarterly and a more detailed summary is made of annual data.
Classifications (SIMS 3.2)
Transports are classified into private and licensed transports according to vehicle use. Lorries are broken down by type of vehicle: lorries without trailer, lorries with semi-trailer and full trailer lorries. Transported goods are classified into 45 categories according to a national classification of types of goods. In addition, transports can be classified by weight class, length of journey, hazardous goods category and type of cargo.
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Articulated vehicle
Goods road motor vehicle with trailer or trailers.
Cabotage transport
Transport within one country with a vehicle registered in another country.
Cross-trade transport
Transport performed by a road motor vehicle registered in one country between a place of loading in a second country and a place of unloading in a third country. Such transport may involve transit through one or more additional country or countries.
Dangerous goods
Dangerous goods are substances that may cause damage to people, property or the environment due to their corrosive, flammable, explosive, spontaneously combustible, toxic, oxidising, radioactive, biological, water reactive or other nature.
Floor area within vehicle body
Maximum floor area within the vehicle body (e.g. measured in square metres) available for the carriage of goods.
Foreign road vehicle
A road vehicle registered in a country other than the reporting country and bearing registration plates of that foreign country.
Goods road motor vehicle
Any single road motor vehicle designed to carry goods (e.g. a lorry), or any coupled combination of road vehicles designed to carry goods, (i.e. lorry with trailer(s), or road tractor with semi-trailer and with or without trailer).
Goods road vehicle
Road vehicle designed, exclusively or primarily, to carry goods. Included are: a) Light goods road vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of not more than 3 500 kg, designed exclusively or primarily, to carry goods, e.g. vans and pick-ups b) Heavy goods road vehicles with a gross vehicle weight above 3 500 kg, designed, exclusively or primarily, to carry goods c) Road tractors d) Agricultural tractors permitted to use roads open to public traffic.
Gross vehicle weight
Total of the weight of the vehicle (or combination of vehicles) including its load when stationary and ready for the road declared permissible by the competent authority of the country of registration. This includes the weight of the driver and the maximum number of persons permitted to be carried.
Heavy goods road vehicle
Goods road vehicle with a gross vehicle weight above 3 500 kg, designed, exclusively or primarily, to carry goods.
International road transport
Transport from Finland to abroad and from abroad to Finland, between third countries, and cabotage.
Licensed transport
Transportation of people or goods against a fee (for hire or reward). Practising of the transportation is subject to a permission from a licensing authority.
Light goods road vehicle
Goods road vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of not more than 3 500 kg, designed, exclusively or primarily, to carry goods. Included are vans designed for and used primarily for transport of goods, pick-ups and small lorries with a gross vehicle weight of not more than 3 500 kg.
Load capacity
Maximum weight of goods declared permissible by the competent authority of the country of registration of the vehicle (difference between gross weight and own weight).
Load volume
Maximum volume available in the vehicle (e.g. measured in cubic metres) for the carriage of goods.
Loading ratio
Weight of load relative to the load capacity of a lorry.
Lorry / truck
Rigid road motor vehicle designed, exclusively or primarily, to carry goods. Gross weight in excess of 3,500 kg.
National road transport
Road transport between two places (a place of loading/embarkation and a place of unloading/disembarkation) located in Finland with vehicles registered in Finland for private and licensed transport (for hire or reward). The trip may include transit in the area of another country.
Place of loading
The place taken into account for loading is the place where the goods were loaded on a goods road motor vehicle or where the road tractor has been changed.
Place of unloading
The place taken into account is the place where the goods were unloaded from a goods road motor vehicle or where the road tractor has been changed.
Road goods transport enterprise
Road transport enterprise offering and performing services in the transport of goods, whose main activity in the field of road transport, according to value-added, is road goods transport.
Road tractor
Road motor vehicle designed, exclusively or primarily, to haul other road vehicles which are not power-driven (mainly semi-trailers). Agricultural tractors are excluded.
Road train
Goods road motor vehicle coupled to a trailer. Articulated vehicle with a further trailer attached is included.
Semi-trailer
Goods road vehicle with no front axle designed in such way that part of the vehicle and a substantial part of its loaded weight rests on a road tractor.
Swap body
A freight-carrying unit optimised to road vehicle dimensions and fitted with handling devices for transfer between modes, usually road/rail.
Tonne-kilometre
Tonne-kilometre describes the volume of transport, and is obtained as a product of transported volume of goods (tonnes) and length of transport journey (kilometres).
Tonne-kilometre by road
Unit of measurement of goods transport which represents the transport of one tonne by road over one kilometre. The distance to be taken into consideration is the distance actually run.
Transit transport
Transit transport refers to transport of a load through one country while the places of departure and destination are in another country or countries and the load is transported through the transit country without loading or unloading.
Transit transport by road
Transit transport refers to through passage transport where the points of departure and destination are in another country or other countries and the transport passes through the territory of the transit country without loading of unloading.
Transport for hire or reward
Transportation of people or goods for a fee, i.e. transportation subject to a licence.
Transport on own account
Transport which is not for hire or reward. Such transport is the movement by an enterprise of its own staff or freight without any associated financial transaction. Although individual persons may undertake such transport, it is not included here.
Type of cargo
Type of cargo indicates the type of container in which goods are transported.
Vehicle-kilometre
Total number of kilometres driven by one vehicle class or a specified subgroup over a specified time period, usually twelve months.
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Legal acts and other agreements (SIMS 6.1)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Data sharing (SIMS 6.2)
The latest quarterly data are available on the publication date of the release on Statistics Finland's homepages. The data of the statistics are also available in Statistics Finland's StatFin database service.
Source data (SIMS 18.1)
The sample is drawn from the transport register of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom. The sample frame has around 70,000 lorries intended for goods transport and the total size of the sample is 10,000 lorries per year. The quarterly sample (2,500) is allocated between the strata using Neyman's allocation.
Frequency of data collection (SIMS 18.2)
The data are collected quarterly.
Data collection (SIMS 18.3)
The data for the statistics are collected from lorry owners with electronic questionnaires. The data are collected in every quarter with the help of the actual inquiry and two new inquiries.
Data validation (SIMS 18.4)
The data obtained as responses are checked at Statistics Finland before they are entered into the database.
Data compilation (SIMS 18.5)
Before performing calculations with them the data are controlled for logic, and any erroneous cases are corrected. In the publication the results of the sample survey were raised with statistical methods to apply to the entire sample frame and over time to the whole quarter/year.
Overall accuracy (SIMS 13.1)
The statistics are based on a sample survey.
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information: European Statistics Code of Practice | Statistics Finland and Recommendations of the Advisory Board of Official Statistics of Finland | Statistics Finland
Data revision - policy (SIMS 17.1)
Revisions – i.e. improvements in the accuracy of statistical data already published – are a normal feature of statistical production and result in improved quality of statistics. The principle is that statistical data are based on the best available data and information concerning the statistical phenomenon. On the other hand, the revisions are communicated as transparently as possible in advance. Advance communication ensures that the users can prepare for the data revisions.
The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before.
Revisions of statistical data may also be caused by the calculation method used, such as annual benchmarking or updating of weight structures. Changes of base years and used classifications may also cause revisions to data.
Timeliness (SIMS 14.1)
The results are published quarterly approximately 12 weeks from the end of the survey period.
Punctuality (SIMS 14.2)
The data are delivered according to the target date.
Comparability - geographical (SIMS 15.1)
The sample of the statistics is divided by region in the same proportion based on the number of lorries. The data of the statistics are comparable with corresponding statistics of other EU countries.
Comparability - over time (SIMS 15.2)
Statistics Finland has been producing statistics on goods transport by road since 1995. As of the beginning of 2011, the statistics on goods transport by road have been compiled by a revised methods in respect of both domestic and international transport. The data concerning domestic transport for the years 2001 to 2010 have been recalculated with the new method. The data are not comparable with previously released data calculated with the old method.
Coherence – cross domain (SIMS 15.3)
Statistics Finland's statistics on goods transport by road are the only regularly produced report on goods transport by road in Finland. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency measures the transport performance of heavy vehicles regularly on the road network, but the statistics of the agency comprise buses and coaches, foreign lorries and lorries not suitable for goods transport, which are excluded from the sampling frame used by Statistics Finland. For this reason, the transport performance reported by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency is bigger than that reported by Statistics Finland.
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Release calendar access (SIMS 8.2)
Statistics Finland's release calendar Future publications
Future publications of the statistics can be found on the page of the statistics at: Future publications of the statistics
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data. The terms of use for statistical data.
Frequency of dissemination (SIMS 9)
The statistics are published quarterly and a more comprehensive annual release is published on annual data.
News release (SIMS 10.1)
The release is published quarterly and annually on the home page of the statistics.
Online database (SIMS 10.3)
The database tables of the statistics can be found in the StatFin database.
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and the Finnish Data Protection Act are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
Confidentiality - data treatment (SIMS 7.2)
Statistics Finland's official guidelines on the protection of tabulated business data are applied in protecting the statistics on goods transport by road. As in sample surveys, the basis for publishing the data is to not publish data on the statistical units belonging to the sample. In terms of protection, compliance with the threshold rule (3) is the primary procedure. As a rule, the data are published in basic statistical publications so that separate protection is not needed because the published data contain enough observations and no dominance appears (the largest enterprise owns under one per cent of all lorries in the basic group). If exceptions are made to this by increasing the level of detail of tabulation, for example, each situation is estimated separately.
Both tabulated data and microdata are supplied to Eurostat from the data. The tabulated data are at such a crude level that the cells have enough observations and no dominance appears, so there is no need for protection. Microdata are delivered so that all data enabling direct identification of an individual enterprise are removed from them.