Almost half (45%) of the UK’s van drivers are turning down jobs every month as they become financially unviable.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ latest survey of 1,000 UK van drivers saw 61% of respondents report an increase in weekly working hours, averaging 9.25 hours per day in 2024, up from 9.18 hours in 2023 and 8.59 hours in 2022.
A third (31%) now drive over 100 miles every day for jobs – up significantly from the 23% covering these distances in 2023 and 20% in 2022. This has caused the average weekly fuel bill to rise by 15% to £127.13, up from £110.32 the previous year.
The survey also found that the majority of respondents identified that an electric van could save them running costs. As many as 62% said an eLCV would be more cost-effective to operate.
Craig Cavanagh, national fleet manager at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “We recognise the considerable challenges facing the UK’s tradespeople, with more demanding hours and rising fuel costs, among other factors. At Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, we’re committed to keeping our customers on the road with Volkswagen Connected Services – offering roadside assistance, service scheduling, and more to support van drivers.
“Our fixed-cost servicing plans also provide peace of mind for both individual drivers and fleet managers, helping with scheduling and reducing unexpected expenses.”
