Latest Annual Report on the Road Freight Efficiency Index

Release date:

2022-01-13

Author:

Jinhua Logistics

This report provides an analysis and summary of China’s road freight logistics performance from January to December 2021. By conducting a detailed data analysis of the overall operational status of road freight vehicles across the industry, as well as the performance of long-, medium-, and short-haul transport vehicles and cold-chain logistics vehicles, the report characterizes the operational dynamics of various segments within China’s road freight sector.

To gain a comprehensive understanding of the operational status of China’s road freight sector and to promote the industrial upgrading of this sector, since… 2014 Starting from the year, China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing Highway Branch Released to the national road freight logistics sector “ China Road Freight Efficiency Index ” Since its launch, this index has garnered widespread attention across the industry and plays a crucial role in assessing the current state of China’s road freight sector.

This report is a review of 2021 China’s road freight transport in [year] 1-12 Analysis and Summary of Monthly Logistics Operations. This report conducts a detailed data analysis of the overall operational performance of road freight vehicles across the industry, as well as the performance of long-, medium-, and short-haul transport vehicles and cold-chain logistics vehicles, thereby characterizing the operational dynamics of various segments within China’s road freight sector.

Overall Industry Performance

The development of the logistics industry serves as a barometer of China’s economic and social performance. Meanwhile, the operational readiness and utilization efficiency of logistics and freight vehicles are key indicators for assessing the state of the country’s logistics sector. We employ the China Road Freight Efficiency Index to gauge both the evolution of the road freight logistics industry and the broader economic and social conditions in China.

As shown in the figure, it is 2021 year 1-12 The distribution of China’s road freight transport efficiency index across months clearly shows that… 2、11、12 The monthly impact index due to the pandemic is relatively low, 3-10 The monthly figure remained broadly unchanged. However, overall, for the entire year it was only… 1 The monthly index is above the benchmark. 100 ); the remaining months all fell below the benchmark, indicating that, 2021 In [year], China’s logistics industry and the road freight market operated steadily overall, though performance was weak in certain months.

Overall, 2021 Year-end 1 Outside of the month, road freight efficiency generally falls short. 2020 year. However, the overall development of the road freight sector throughout the year was relatively 2020 The year was even more stable.

Short-Haul Freight Operations Status —— Reflects the urban delivery market

Short‑haul freight primarily comprises urban delivery and intercity short‑distance transportation. It is arguably the freight segment most closely tied to national economic development and people’s livelihoods. Studying the operational dynamics of the short‑haul freight market is of great significance for gaining insights into China’s social and economic progress and for formulating sound policies that address public needs.

As can be seen from the figure above, except for 1 Outside of the month, 2021 year 3 One month later, the performance of China’s short-haul freight market and… 2019 The year remained broadly stable. It is evident that the COVID‑19 pandemic has had only a limited impact on China’s short‑haul freight market and on people’s livelihoods.

Long-Distance Freight Transport Operations Status —— Reflects the trunk-line logistics market

Long-haul freight transport is primarily driven by trunk-line transportation services. Understanding the operational dynamics of the long-haul freight market is, in essence, understanding the state of China’s trunk-line transportation market. As shown in the figure, 2021 year 2、7、11 The month is characterized by relatively low vehicle efficiency in China’s trunk‑line transportation sector, indicating that logistics market activity remains insufficient during this period.

Compared to 2020 Year, 2021 The annual on-duty rate of trunk-line transport vehicles has decreased from 4 The monthly figure began to fall below the level of the same period last year. Among them, 4 Month, 9 The month exhibits two peaks in the difference. However, it is worth noting that the overall performance throughout the year consistently falls short of… 2014 At the annual average level, no month exceeded the baseline. 100 ).

Mid-route freight vehicle operation status —— Reflects the branch-line transportation market

In transit (transport distance is within 200–600 between kilometers) In the freight sector, the branch‑line transportation market, except for 1、2 Outside the month, others 10 Compared with the performance of the month 2020 There has been a significant year-on-year decline. The annual operational efficiency index exceeded the benchmark. 100 There is no month, indicating that the transportation distance is in 200-600 feeder transportation services between kilometers, 2021 Compared to the annual logistics market demand level 2020 Annual reduction.

Cold-chain logistics operational status

Cold-chain logistics primarily handles the storage and transportation of fresh and frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and other perishable goods, making it one of the foundational industries that ensure the smooth functioning of the national economy and people’s livelihoods. Gaining insight into the operational status of cold-chain logistics vehicles is of great significance for understanding the overall performance of the cold-chain logistics sector.

As shown in the figure, it is 2021 The annual distribution of the vehicle utilization efficiency index for cold-chain logistics vehicles reveals that throughout the year, there are… 330 The operational efficiency of vehicles is insufficient. 2014 Annual average level (baseline figure). Among them, 5-10 Monthly vehicle utilization efficiency is relatively high, 10 After the month, it is relatively weaker. It is evident that cold-chain logistics exhibits a pronounced seasonal pattern.

The jagged curve in the figure highlights the pronounced cyclical nature of the cold-chain logistics business: peak demand typically occurs from Wednesday to Friday each week, while vehicle utilization and overall business activity decline significantly over the weekend. This pattern can serve as data‑driven evidence to inform vehicle dispatching decisions for cold-chain logistics operators.

and 2021 Compared with the first half of the year, 2021 In the second half of the year, the operational performance of cold-chain logistics vehicles was relatively more stable. This indicates that… 2021 In the second half of the year, the cold-chain logistics market has become relatively more mature, with a more balanced supply-and-demand dynamic.