Development of a practical aggregate spatial road freight modal demand model system for truck and commodity movements with an application of a distance-based charging regime

We promote a view that more attention should be given to the freight sector in order to recognise that many initiatives designed to impact on passenger travel do also impact on the performance of the movement of freight vehicles and hence the ability to distribute commodities from the locations in which they are generated. This paper develops a practical freight demand model system and applies the models within an integrated passenger and freight model system for the Greater Sydney Metropolitan Area using a distance based charge for trucks and cars as a way of highlighting the importance of not ignoring truck traffic when assessing road pricing reform in the car passenger sector.