2. Typology of urban goods flows

In France, freight flows have long been recorded at national level. The national accounts are based on road haulage surveys (TRM). These surveys are compulsory and are carried out on an ongoing basis among owners of heavy goods vehicles (> 3.5 t), based on the hauliers' register on which each vehicle is recorded.

In conjunction with rail (SNCF) and sea (VNF) flows, a map of major intercity freight flows by NST category is updated annually by the French Ministry of Sustainable Development's Service de l'observation et des statistiques (SOeS) (SITRAM). A survey on the use of light commercial vehicles is carried out approximately every 5 years, using a questionnaire which specifies whether the vehicle is used to transport goods, and completes this table. The survey is based on the vehicle registration file. Until 1990, "cordon" surveys carried out on a normal day...