Den danske varetransport på vej. En mangesidet aktivitets historie og struktur

Resumé

I århundreder har vogne fra landbrug og andre erhvervsdrivende domineret de danske veje. Først de seneste 50 år har professionelle transportører kørt mere end halvdelen af godset; transportens kraftige vækst siden 1950’erne skete fortrinsvis hos vognmændene.

Behovet for godstransport ændrer sig til stadighed, og transportens aktører må dagligt tilpasse sig – i de seneste 100 år godt hjulpet af en forbedret teknologi; det typiske køretøj, veje og læssegrej er forbedret så meget, at chaufførens produktivitet er steget 50 gange eller mere.

Transporten udføres af relativt små virksomheder. Der er de seneste årtier blevet behov for store selskaber til at styre og koordinere transport i en tid med global ’just-in-time’ transport, og her integreres små firmaer undertiden inden for et stort firmas rammer.

Den danske udvikling har fulgt en international udvikling, hvilket ikke kan undre, når teknologi og opgaver er identiske kloden rundt. Der findes dog forskelle til selv nærliggende lande og ikke mindst til USA.

Godstransport spejler al industri, byggeri, landbrug og handel. Ændres produkter og leveringsform blot et sted, berører det alle transportens led. Transportens mange markeder er derved lige så komplicerede som alle de øvrige dele af erhvervslivet tilsammen. Der mangler endnu meget forskning, før vi kender alle vigtige dele af transportens historie.                   

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The history and structure of road freight transport in Denmark

For centuries, carriages from farms and other traders dominated the Danish roads. Only in the last 50 years have professional hauliers driven more than half of the goods; the strong growth since the 1950s occurred predominantly among the haulage contractors.

The need for freight transport is changing constantly, causing transport operators to adapt daily. During the last 100 years, aided by improved technology, the typical vehicle, roads and equipment have improved to the extent that the driver's productivity has increased 40 times or more.

Transport is carried out by relatively small cargo companies. Over the past few decades, large companies have become necessary to manage and coordinate transport during this time of global just-in-time transport. As a result, small businesses are often integrated into a large company framework.

Danish development has followed international development, which is not surprising, considering that technology and tasks are identical around the globe. However, there are differences in nearby countries, not the least of which is the United States.

Freight transport mirrors all industries, construction, agriculture and commerce. A change in products and delivery in one place affects all of the transport linkages. Transport’s many markets are as complicated as all other parts of businesses put together. As significant as freight transport is today, there is still insufficient research on all of the important parts of this industry.