Recent data by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has shown that the amount of commercial vehicles on the road has risen dramatically over the past half decade.
According to the ABS’s 2015 Motor Vehicle Census, there are now more than 18 million motor vehicles registered across the nation – a solid 12.1 per cent or 1.9 million more than in 2010.
The number of articulated trucks registered in Australia increased more than 15 per cent over the same time period – about a third more than the passenger car fleet, which grew at just over ten per cent.
The amount of light rigid trucks increased by an even more impressive 21.4 per cent, while the number of registered light commercial vehicles jumped 18.1 per cent.
Overall, passenger cars make up around 75 per cent of Australia’s vehicle population, while light commercial vehicles, light and heavy rigids as well as articulated trucks make up for around 19 per cent of the nation’s vehicle fleet.
In 2015, the average age of all vehicles registered in Australia was 10.1 years, 0.1 years more than in 2010.
While the average car is 9.8 years old (+0.1 years compared to 2010), articulated trucks now have an average age of 11.5 years (+0.6), according to the ABS – indicating the heavy truck fleet is growing old notably quicker than the rest of the vehicle population.
Heavy rigid trucks are the oldest vehicles on the road, with an average age of 15.7 years (+0.3).
The average age for light commercial vehicles at 10.4 years has not changed, while light rigid trucks are now 11.2 years on average (+0.3).