Commercial vehicles continue to be the main way we move goods around the country, carrying 80% of all freight in the UK – a figure that has not changed for decades. One thing that has changed is the way goods are delivered to consumers. In January 2008, online sales accounted for 4.9% of retail transactions, but by August of this year the figure had risen to 18.2%. Internet retailing is more popular in the UK than in any other EU country; 82% of UK residents made at least one online purchase in 2017, well above the EU average of 27%.
To accommodate this significant shift has meant a wholesale change in the nature of the logistics supply chain, in particular, the use of high-end software: one notable logistics company is as much a system provider as home delivery business.
All this activity puts the CV sector under considerable strain, not helped by the ongoing driver shortage. Access to skills is one of the key issues for the industry and likely to remain so for some time.
Road transport connects people and businesses to markets, creating trade and jobs and is an important component of productivity. Anything that helps it to grow will benefit everyone and we will continue to work hard to ensure we are well placed to take advantage of future opportunities.
SOURCE: SMMT
