Commenting on the evidence of increased demand, Peter Davenport, managing director of vehicle solutions firm Motiva Group, said: ‘Demand for vans has shot up massively in recent months. That part of our business was busy throughout 2013, but things really picked up around the end of last summer and there has been a noticeable difference ever since.
‘As soon as we bring vans in, they’re gone and we’ve boosted our fleet twice in five months just to keep pace.
‘Businesses are taking on new trade vehicles in big numbers and I can only see the trend continuing into the second quarter and well beyond.’
Gerry Keaney, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), said increasing demand for vans is also good news for the country as a whole: ‘Van rental serves as a useful barometer for the state of the UK economy as transport is obviously a vital tool of any growing business.
‘There was a particularly strong demand in 2013 and a 20% increase in our members’ short-term van rental fleet.
‘It’s an encouraging sign and we hope it’s a trend that continues.’