Freight Scotland

Home / F.A.Q

Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction
Comments and Feedback
Freight Information
Traffic Information
Mapping
Technical Details and Accessibility
Copyright and Acknowledgements

Introduction

What is Freight Scotland?
Who operates Freight Scotland?
Which roads does Freight Scotland cover?
What is the Scottish trunk road network?
What information does the Freight Scotland web site provide?

Comments and Feedback

I have some feedback for Freight Scotland. Can I send you an e-mail? Can I phone Freight Scotland?

Freight Information

What is Freight News?
How do we classify height restrictions?

Traffic Information

What Traffic information is displayed?
What are Planned Road works?
Why are some roadworks not on the web site?

Mapping

How do I zoom to an area of interest?
How do I pan across the map to an area of interest?
How can I get details about an incident displayed on the map?
Can I customise the map appearance and switch off information that doesn’t interest me?
Can I view Freight and Traffic Information in tabular form rather than on the map?

Technical Details and Accessibility

What browsers does the Freight Scotland web site work in?
Do I need a plug-in to use the mapping?
Do I need cookies enabled?
Is there a ‘printer friendly’ option for the web site?
Can I get an overview of the web site?

Copyright and Acknowledgements

Can I link to the Freight Scotland web site?
Can I use the Ordnance Survey Maps on the web site?

Freight Scotland enables the collection and distribution of real-time freight and traffic information relating to incidents and events currently taking place on the Scottish trunk road network. Freight users in Scotland are provided with information about freight haulage facilities up-to-date freight news and road conditions with the aim of ensuring that most efficient use is made of the existing freight network.

By providing information detailing Scottish freight news and road conditions freight operators are given advance notice of both improvements to the Scottish freight network and warning of problems on the Scottish road network that may affect freight transport. These may include roadworks accidents road restrictions bad weather conditions and road closures.

Freight Scotland also provides location and contact information for Scotland's main freight transportation facilities railheads ports and airports. In addition the website provides location details for Scotland's major industrial estates.

The Scottish Executive and Scottish Ministers have recognised the key role of the Scottish road haulage industry in developing the economy. Through the Road Haulage Modernisation Fund they have committed expenditure of £11.8m between the years 2003/4 and 2007/8. Freight Scotland is a deliverable from the fund.

Who operates Freight Scotland?

Freight Scotland is operated from the National Network Control Centre (NNCC) in Glasgow by the Freight Scotland Operator as part of the traffic information service provided to the Scottish Executive. The NNCC operates 24-hours a day and is open every day of the year.

Which roads does Freight Scotland cover?

Freight Scotland covers the entire Scottish trunk road network.

What is the Scottish trunk road network?

The Trunk Road Network is the strategic road network of motorways, primary routes and major A-roads that covers Scotland, providing long distance links between Scotland's major cities and towns, the English Trunk Road Network and Ferry Ports.

For further information see Scottish Executive

What information does the Freight Scotland web site provide?

Freight Scotland provides real-time Freight and Traffic Information including information on freight facilities, transport hubs, industrial estates, road incidents, current roadworks and weather. Information is also provided about future roadworks and road restrictions.

I have some feedback for Freight Scotland. Can I send you an e-mail? Can I phone Freight Scotland?

You can e-mail us at trafficcontrollerunit@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

The views of the public are always welcome and will help to ensure that Freight Scotland is as responsive as possible to the needs of travellers. If you wish to write to the Traffic Controller Unit with comments, or to seek further information our address is:

Transport Scotland
8th Floor (North Wing)
Buchanan House
58 Dundas Street
Glasgow
G4 OHF

For further information see Contact Us

What is Freight News?

Freight News provides details of current Freight headlines which may have a significant impact on freight transportation in Scotland.

How do we classify height restrictions?

The standard clearence for height restrictions is 16'6 as declared by the Health and Safety Executive. Any structure that is equal to or less than this height must by law display on approach to and on the structure itself a warning sign. Freight Scotland displays road height restrictions for any structures of 18'7 or less. Metric conversion from feet to metres is provided in the table below.

What Traffic information is displayed?

Currently, three categories of Traffic Information for the road network are displayed:

Incidents
Planned Roadworks
Roadworks

What are Planned Road works?

Planned Roadworks are roadworks that are due to commence during the next week to month and are likely to cause disruption on the Scottish trunk road network.

Why are some roadworks not on the web site?

Roadworks will not be displayed on the web site when they are not predicted to cause disruption to traffic nor if the roadworks occur on roads not forming part of the Scottish trunk road network.

How do I zoom to an area of interest?

There are four ways to zoom:

1. Use the button below the map - this zooms to the map centre.
2. Click on the map at desired location
3. Click on the viewfinder map.
4. Click on the Zoom Level Indicator.

How do I pan across the map to an area of interest?

Use the compass arrows surrounding the map.

How can I get details about an incident displayed on the map?

Click directly on the incident icon or select the information type under the List View.

Can I customise the map appearance and switch off information that doesn’t interest me?

Traffic Information is displayed on a series of map layers that can be individually switched on and off using the check boxes under Layers.

Can I view Freight and Traffic Information in tabular form rather than on the map?

Tabular views of all traffic information are available by selecting the appropriate link under List Views.

What browsers does the Freight Scotland web site work in?

Every effort has been made to ensure that the Freight Scotland website is usable by everyone and supports as wide a range of browsers as possible. All the main pages of the Freight Scotland site have been tested for compatibility with the recent versions of the browsers below.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.2
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
Netscape 7.2
Netscape 6.2
Mozilla 1.7.3
Opera 7.54
Firefox 1.0

Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. License Number 100020540.'

For further information see Ordnance Survey