Britain’s lorry and van drivers are under pressure like never before, according to a new survey commissioned by Geotab.
It revealed that 46% have considered quitting their jobs in the past year, due to overwhelming stress, dangerous roads, and insufficient employer support, writes Carol Millett.
The findings paint a stark picture of a workforce on the brink, with potentially severe implications for the UK’s supply chain and logistics sector, Geotab is warning.
The connected vehicle and asset solutions specialist said the survey reveals an unfolding mental health crisis, alongside a sharp decline in perceived road safety, with a general feeling among British lorry and van drivers that roads have become more dangerous since the Covid-19 pandemic.
A vast majority (97%) say the risk of driving accidents has increased over the last five years, citing dangerous behaviour by other road users — including poor driving (44%), speeding (38%), and mobile phone use behind the wheel (36%).
Geotab surveyed 3,501 commercial vehicle drivers across France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK in April this year. Nearly all of them agreed (95%) that the risk of accidents has increased since the pandemic, with 61% reporting this increase as ‘very’ or ‘quite significant’.
A major number (91%) of Europe’s commercial vehicle drivers say that work-related stress has a negative impact on their driving, while 70% say that stress is a contributing factor to increased dangers on the road.
Significant work pressures appear to contribute to this stress, the survey found. Half of the drivers surveyed (46% in the UK) admitted feeling the need to regularly break speed limits to complete jobs on time, while two-thirds (61% UK) stated that excessive traffic or roadworks make completing their jobs difficult.
When asked about the most regularly noticed dangerous behaviours, ‘poor driving by others’ found its highest percentage in the UK (44%), while ‘other drivers on their mobile phones’ was at its highest in Italy (59%) and ‘other vehicles driving too fast’ reached the biggest percentage in Spain (45%). ‘Cyclists endangering their own life’ was at its lowest across Europe in the UK at 19%, with the highest in Germany (36%).
Against this backdrop of increased dangers and work pressures, European drivers feel unsupported by their employers. Over half (55%) feel uncomfortable approaching their employer for support with stress and other mental health concerns, coming in at 53% for the UK and rising to 66% in Ireland and 60% in Germany.
This is also reflected in over a third (37%) reporting their employer offering only a low or non-existent level of support, notably in Spain (50%) and Italy (44%), with 35% feeling this way in the UK .
The effects of these pressures are clear, Geotab said, with nearly half of UK respondents (46%) admitting they have considered quitting their jobs in the past 12 months (rising to 66% in Ireland and 58% in the Netherlands).
This comes at a time when more than 200,000 truck driving jobs are unfilled in Europe, and that number is likely to rise to 745,000 by 2028, according to McKinsey.
Edward Kulperger, Geotab EMEA senior vice president, said: “These results are a stark reminder of the pressures faced by commercial drivers, impacting road safety for everyone. Europe’s economy relies heavily on commercial vehicle drivers, yet stress is pushing them out of the industry and putting road safety at risk.
“Drivers face significant work-related stress, observe dangerous behaviours daily, and are often pressured by schedules, yet many feel unsupported or uncomfortable seeking help.
“These challenges aren’t unique to Europe, echoing findings from our recent North American driver survey. With nearly half thinking about quitting – and that amidst a driver shortage – it is crucial for employers to provide better mental health support now.”
Looking forward, two-thirds (67%) of UK drivers support adopting technology to enhance driving performance. Geotab said its findings clearly illustrate the necessity for increased investment in driver support, stress management, and promoting a culture of safety.
Kulperger said: “As an industry, we must prioritise driver wellbeing, employing data and technology not just for efficiency, but to proactively create safer, less stressful environments. A real commitment is needed to keep roads safe and supply chains moving.
The survey’s report concluded: “Addressing these challenges is crucial for driver wellbeing and fleet efficiency. Prioritising safety helps reduce accidents, lowering insurance, repair, and downtime costs. Implementing robust safety programmes, supported by telematics data and cutting-edge AI models, allows proactive interventions.
“By pinpointing risks, coaching safer behaviours, and monitoring wellbeing indicators, fleets can enhance safety, improve productivity, and achieve significant cost savings, leveraging the technology drivers are willing to adopt.”
