Van Drivers Are Working Longer Hours, Driving Further, Spending More
18/03/2025 09:57 Share
Van Drivers Are Working Longer Hours, Driving Further, Spending More
UK van drivers worked longer hours and drove further for jobs last year, according to a new study by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
A survey of 1000 UK van drivers discovered that 61% of respondents saw their weekly working hours increase to an average of 9.25 hours per day in 2024.
This represents an increase on 2023, up from 9.18 hours, and 2022 when the average working day spanned 8.59 hours.
During an average 252 days spent working over an annual period, that represents an extra 29.4 hours year-on-year between 2024 and 2023.
The study also reveals that 31% are now prepared to travel more than 100 miles for a job – an increase on 23% in 2023 and 20% in 2022 – while 45% of those who took part in the survey reveal they have been forced to turn down jobs that aren’t considered financially viable.
The figures come in the wake of a sustained rise in running costs for van drivers, namely fuel, with bills rising by 15% in 2024 to an average of £127.13 a week. This is up from £110.32 a week from 2023.
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."
The study concludes that 62% of respondents believe they would benefit from switching to an electric vehicle in future as a more cost-effective mode of van-based transportation.
As it stands, there are many EV vans available now at Vansdirect, including the Ford E-Transit, Citroen e-Berlingo, Renault Master E-Tech and Maxus Deliver 7.
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