Commission Regulation (EC) No 2163/2001 of 7 November 2001 concerning the technical arrangements for data transmission for statistics on the carriage of goods by road (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2001-11-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Eurostat, carriage of goods, data transmission, road transport, transport statistics

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COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2163/2001

of 7 November 2001

concerning the technical arrangements for data transmission for statistics on the carriage of goods
by road

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1172/98 of 25
May 1998 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of
goods by road (1), as amended by Commission Regulation (EC)
No 2691/1999 (2), and in particular Article 5(2) and Article 9
thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

In accordance with Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No
1172/98, the Commission shall determine the arrange-
ments for the transmission of data by the Member
States.

It is necessary to specify the format in which the data
are to be transmitted to Eurostat in sufficient detail to
ensure that the data can be processed rapidly and in a
cost effective way.

This Regulation does not change the status of the vari-
ables which are declared optional in Regulation (EC) No
1172/98.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in
Statistical
accordance with

opinion

the

the

of

Programme Committee, set up by Council Decision 89/
382/EEC, Euratom (3),

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

format

The technical
for the transmission of data to the
Commission (Eurostat) is defined in the Annex to this Regula-
tion.

Member States shall use this format for the data concerning the
2002 reference year and subsequent years.

Article 2

Member States shall transmit to the Commission (Eurostat) the
data and metadata required by this Regulation in electronic
form, in conformity with an interchange standard proposed by
the Commission (Eurostat).

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter
into force on the 20th day
following its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 7 November 2001.

For the Commission

Pedro SOLBES MIRA

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 163, 6.6.1998, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 326, 18.12.1999, p. 39.

(3) OJ L 181, 28.6.1989, p. 47.

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ANNEX

TECHNICAL FORMAT FOR DATA TRANSMISSION

1. DATA STRUCTURE

The individual data records for each quarter, which are to be sent to Eurostat, shall consist of three linked data sets
covering:

A1

vehicle-related variables

A2

journey-related variables

A3

goods-related variables (in the basic transport operation).

Each A1 ‘vehicle record’ is linked to 1-n ‘journey records’ (A2 data set) which contain data on the journeys made by
that vehicle during the survey period (normally one week). Each journey record is in turn linked to 0-m ‘goods records’
(A3 data set) which contain data on the basic transport operations which make up that journey.

Figure 1 illustrates the structure of the data.

It should be noted that there may not be multiple goods records for each journey record.

For laden journeys, depending on the method used to record journeys, and/or on the type of journey, there may be
only one goods record linked to each journey record. For unladen journeys, there shall normally be no linked goods
records (although the existence of linked goods records for empty journeys is permitted).

The ‘Methodological appendix’

in Annex A to Regulation (EC) No 1172/98 provides further information.

2. LIST OF FIELDS

The following information is provided for each field:

— field number: this identifies the position of the field in the record,

— variable: this is either the reference to the variable in Regulation (EC) No 1172/98, or an internal identifier,

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— description: short description of the contents of the field,

— coding: variables are to be coded according to Annexes A to G of Regulation (EC) No 1172/98. Additional coding
rules are noted here. Further explanations and recommendations on coding may be provided by Eurostat in the
reference manual for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1172/98,

— field type:

indicates whether field contains a numeric quantity or a text string,

— except for variable A1.9, all numeric fields are to be provided as integers,

— variable A1.9 shall have a comma (‘,’) as the decimal separator,

— optional variable: a flag for variables which are optional according to Annex A to Regulation (EC) No 1172/98,

— maximum length: the maximum expected length of the data for this field. Data which are too long cannot be

loaded,

— key field: the combination of the values of the key fields for a data set must constitute a unique key value within
that data set. If duplicate key values are found, the loading of the data set and its linked data sets is blocked, since
the vehicle,

journey and goods records cannot be correctly linked.

Data Set A1: Vehicle-related variables

Field
number

Variable

Description

Coding

Field type

* =
optional
variable

Maximum
length

* = key
field

Specific codes for
missing values

1

2

3

4

5

6

RCount

Reporting country

(1)

DSetID

Data set identifier

A1

Year

Year of the data set

4 digits

Text

Text

Text

Quarter

Quarter of the data set

Q1, Q2, Q3 or Q4

Text

QuestN

Questionnaire identifier

Text

A1.1

Possibility of using vehicle
for combined transport

To be developed

Text

7

A1.3

Age of
vehicle
tractor)

the road motor
road
or
(lorry

Years from first registra-
tion

Numeric

8

A1.6

NACE Revision 1 activity
class of the vehicle oper-
ator

NACE 4-digit level

Text

9

A1.8.1

Total
vehicle kilometres
during the survey period
— loaded

km

Numeric

*

*

*

*

*

2

2

4

2

9

1

2

5

4

*

*

99

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Field
number

Variable

Description

Coding

Field type

* =
optional
variable

Maximum
length

* = key
field

Specific codes for
missing values

10

A1.8.2

11

A1.9

Total
vehicle kilometres
during the survey period
— empty (including road
tractor
journeys without
semi-trailer)

full

Vehicle weighting to be
used to get
results
from individual data, if the
collection of data is carried
out from a sample

12

Stratum

identifier

Stratum
of
sample in which vehicle
appears

km

Numeric

*

Numeric

Text

13

A2 link

Number of
records

linked A2

Numeric

Numeric

(1) This variable shall be coded using the country codes in Annex G to Regulation (EC) No 1172/98.

Data set A2: Journey-related variables

4

8

7

5

Field
number

Variable

Description

Coding

Field type

* =
optional
variable

Maximum
length

* = key
field

Specific codes for
missing values

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

RCount

Reporting country

DSetID

Data set identifier

(1)

A2

Year

Year of the data set

4 digits

Text

Text

Text

Quarter

Quarter of the data set

Q1, Q2, Q3 or Q4

Text

QuestN

Questionnaire identifier

JournN

Journey identifier

Text

Text

A1.2

Axle configuration

Annex B Regulation (EC)
No 1172/98

Text

*

A1.4

Maximum
laden weight

permissible

100 kg

Numeric

A1.5

Load capacity

100 kg

Numeric

*

*

*

*

*

*

2

2

4

2

9

5

3

4

4

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Field
number

Variable

Description

Coding

Field type

* =
optional
variable

Maximum
length

* = key
field

Specific codes for
missing values

10

A1.7

Type of transport

11

A2.1

Type of journey

Annex A to Regulation
(EC) No 1172/98

Text

Annex C Regulation (EC)
No 1172/98

Text

12

A2.2

Weight of goods

Gross weight in 100 kg

Numeric

13

A2.3

14

A2.4

15

A2.5

(2)

(2)

km

loading (of

Place of
the
goods road motor vehicle,
for a laden journey)

Place of unloading (of the
goods road motor vehicle,
for a laden journey)

excluding

Distance travelled: actual
distance
the
distance covered by the
goods road motor vehicle
while being transported by
another means of
trans-
port

Text

Text

Numeric

16

A2.6

x
Tonnes
during the journey

km effected

tonne/km

Numeric

(2)

(2)

(2)

17

A2.7

in
Countries
transit (not more than 5)

crossed

18

A2.8

19

A2.9

20

A2.10

goods

Place of loading, if any, of
road motor
the
vehicle on another means
of transport

Place of unloading, if any,
of the goods road motor
vehicle
from another
means of transport

loading
of
Degree
vehicle
terms
(in
maximum volume
space used
during
journey)

of
of
of
the

Text

Text

Text

Text

*

*

*

21

A3 link

Number of
records

linked A3

Numeric

(1) This variable shall be coded using the country codes in Annex G to Regulation (EC) No 1172/98.
(2) This variable shall be coded according to the rules set out in Annex G to Regulation (EC) No 1172/98.

1

1

4

5

5

4

8

10

5

5

1

8

9

XX

XX

XX

XX

9

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Data set A3: Goods-related variables (in the basic transport operation)

Field
number

Variable

Description

Coding

Field type

* =
optional
variable

Maximum
length

* = key
field

Specific codes for
missing values

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

RCount

Reporting country

(1)

DSetID

Data set identifier

A3

Year

Year of the data set

4 digits

Text

Text

Text

Quarter

Quarter of the data set

Q1, Q2, Q3 or Q4

Text

QuestN

Questionnaire identifier

JournN

Journey identifier

GoodsN

Goods operation identifier

Text

Text

Text

A3.1

Type of goods, according
to the groups referring to
an
classi-
fication

appropriate

Annex D to Regulation
(EC) No 1172/98 (NST/R)

Text

9

A3.2

Weight of goods

Gross weight in 100 kg

Numeric

10

A3.3

Classification of dangerous
goods

Annex E to Regulation
(EC) No 1172/98 (main
categories of Directive 94/
55/EC)

Text

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

2

2

4

2

9

4

6

2

4

3

11

A3.4

Type of cargo

Annex F to Regulation
(EC) No 1172/98 (1-digit
level of UN Recommenda-
tion No 21)

Text

*

1

12

A3.5

Place of
goods

loading of

the

(2)

13

A3.6

Place of unloading of the
goods

(2)

Text

Text

5

5

XX

XX

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Field
number

Variable

Description

Coding

Field type

* =
optional
variable

Maximum
length

* = key
field

Specific codes for
missing values

14

A3.7

excluding

Distance travelled, actual
the
distance
distance covered with the
goods road motor vehicle
while being transported by
another means of
trans-
port

km

Numeric

4

(1) This variable shall be coded using the country codes in Annex G to Regulation (EC) No 1172/98.
(2) This variable shall be coded according to the rules set out in Annex G to Regulation (EC) No 1172/98.

3. MISSING VALUES

By default, missing values in data records shall be coded as an empty field (no data between two successive field
separators). For certain fields, Eurostat may recommend the use of specific codes for missing values or other special
values (see column ‘specific codes for missing values’).

Additional information is provided in the reference manual for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1172/98 on
statistics on the carriage of goods by road.

4. CHANGE IN CONFIGURATION OR TYPE OF TRANSPORT

Annex A to Regulation (EC) No 1172/98 noted that during a survey period a vehicle might be subject to a change in
configuration (addition of a trailer giving rise to a change in axle configuration and load capacity) or the type of
transport might vary between journeys. These changes should be recorded, although this is not obligatory.

In order to permit the transmission of these data within the normal data structures described here, the variables A1.2,
A1.4, A1.5 and A1.7 shall be transmitted as part of the A2 data set (journey-related variables).

5. VALIDATION OF DATA BY EUROSTAT

Eurostat shall apply some validation checks to the data transmitted by Member States, before the data are loaded into
the production database. Where a significant number of records fails these checks, Eurostat shall notify the Member
State of the records in error and provide an indication of the reasons for non-acceptance. The Member State shall be
requested to rectify the errors noted and then to re-submit the complete set of three data sets for that quarter (not just
the records that were in error). This procedure is necessary in order to guarantee the correctness of the weighting
factors and the coherence between the vehicle,

journey and goods records.

Where the number of records containing errors is very small and the likely effect on any analysis insignificant, Eurostat
shall load those records that pass the verification checks and to discard the records in error. In such a case a Member
State shall be informed of the records not passing the checks and the reasons. The Member State shall be invited, if it
wished, to correct the errors found and to resubmit the complete set of three data sets for that quarter (not just the
records that were in error). Where a re-submission is made, Eurostat shall load the revised data but if no re-submission
is made, Eurostat shall use the date already accepted for the preparation of aggregated tables.

6. NAMING OF DATA SETS

Names of data sets shall be, according to the Stadium requirements, in the form ‘CCYYQnROADAx.ZZZ’ where:

CC

YY

Reporting country

2 last digits of the year (e.g. ‘01’ for year 2001)

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Qn

Quarter: n = 1 to 4

Data set identification:
A1: vehicle data set
A2: journey data set
A3: goods data set

data set type:
.dat: individual data sets
.zip: compressed data set in Pkzip or WinZip format

ROADAx

.ZZZ

Examples:

1. The data set ‘ES99Q2ROADA1.zip’ is a compressed ‘zip’ data set containing the A1 data set for Spain, year 1999

and quarter 2 (‘ES99Q2ROADA1.dat’).

2. The data set ‘UK99Q3ROADA2.dat’ is the data set that contains for United Kingdom, year 1999, quarter 3, the data

set A2.

The above specified data set name has to appear in the subject line of the electronic mail.

7. TRANSMISSION MEDIA

The preferred transmission support is Stadium, sent to an address to be notified by Eurostat. Note that electronic mail
is subject to maximum size limits which may exclude its use for large data sets.

8. TRANSITIONAL PERIOD

In a transitional period, the data may also be sent in ASCII data sets with variable-length fields. The semi-colon (‘;’) is
used as the field separator.

All fields must be present even if they are empty (that is, two successive field separators).

Additional spaces in the data fields shall be ignored, unless the specific instructions for a field prohibit the presence of
additional spaces.

Furthermore during this transitional period Eurostat shall also support the reception of data by post on diskettes or
recordable compact disks (CD-R). Data shall not be accepted on magnetic tapes or on paper.

Where data are to be sent by electronic mail, the following rules shall apply in a transitional period:
— data shall be sent in the form of attached data sets,
— only one data set at a time can be attached to each message,
— the name of the data set shall be used as the subject of the message,
— comments on data (such as methodological notes, remarks on the quality of the data, etc.) can be entered as plain
text in the body of the message to which a data data set is attached. Formatted text shall not be used,
— comments on data may also be sent as a separate plain text message (without an attached data data set) using the

subject field:

‘CCYYQnROADAx.rem’. Formatted text shall not be used,

— corrections: to correct a data file previously transmitted to Eurostat, the corrected data set shall be sent with the
same data set name, together with an explanatory note in plain text format in the body of the e-mail.