In the collection of data for statistics on goods transport by road data are requested from owners of lorries (both companies and private owners) on their lorries and on their use in Finland or abroad on three to four successive survey days. The data from the statistics on goods transport are used for decision-making concerning the transport activity and for research and planning in Finland and on the EU level. According to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1172/98, Statistics Finland is obliged to produce quarterly statistics on goods transport by road.
The data for the statistics are collected quarterly by a sample survey. The population of the inquiry is formed by lorries registered in Finland with a total weight of over 3.5 tonnes. Excluded from the population are lorries not actually intended for goods transport, such as museum vehicles, rescue vehicles and special vehicles. The inquiry is sent yearly to a total of 10,000 lorry owners. Paper questionnaires are being used. Since the beginning of 2007 it has also been possible to return data electronically.
The obligation to provide data is based on the Statistics Act (280/2004), which obliges Statistics Finland to treat the provided data as confidential.
Since 2011 the data of domestic and international road freight transports is collected with a common inquiry.
Last updated 17.5.2013