Road freight and the environment

Abstract

Freight transportation is one of the major contributors to economic development in a country. During a recent study, it was found that little information is available in terms of the cost of crashes to the environment. Environmental impacts of road freight transport are categorised as direct or secondary impacts. Externalities are an economic concept that refers to activities that have unintended consequences, positive or negative consequences. This review considers the different environmental links between heavy vehicle transport and the environment. Gauteng is used as an example to highlight the importance that freight plays in the province and highlights the need for adequate freight data to address environmental costs of freight crashes.