Van operators deliver the goods

14th May 2014

Van traffic is set to almost double by 2040, rising twice as fast as traffic overall, a report by the RAC Foundation has predicted.

The report also found that between 2002 and 2012, the number of vans on the road increased by 29% to 3.3 million, while the number of cars rose by 11% to 28.7 million.  Over the same period, the number of HGVs fell by 5% to 460,000.  Every tenth vehicle on the road is now a light commercial vehicle.

The highest percentage change in van ownership was in the North East, followed by the South West and Wales.

Region                               2002                2012         % change

North East                          77,300            141,000             82.5%

South West                        270,100          391,100             44.8%

Wales                                124,400          176,000             41.4%

Scotland                            174,600          241,500             38.3%

South East                         388,700         526,400             35.4%

Yorks & Humberside         182,000         246,000             35.2%

East Midlands                   220,600         278,000                26%

West Midlands                 307,900          382,000             24.1%

East                                 274,000          330,300             20.6%

London                            194,000          203,000               4.7%

North West                      282,500          294,500               4.2%

Total Great Britain        2,542,300     3,280,600             29.0%

“Van travel and ownership has grown significantly in recent years and the government estimates future growth will also be high,” Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said.  “Van traffic is set to almost double by 2040, rising twice as fast as traffic overall.  The big question is why.

“In 2013 three-quarters of British adults shopped online and we have the highest rate of internet shopping in the EU.  Intuitively you would think this has resulted in a big rise in home deliveries and hence van use, but so far no one has crunched the numbers.

“There is also reason to believe hauliers are switching away from larger vehicles because of changing delivery patterns and growing environmental restrictions on HGVs.  It could also be that more and more people are running their own businesses and need a van to carry their goods and tools.

“The stereotypical white van man comes in for a lot of bad press, but the rapidly rising number of light commercial vehicles on our roads suggests a growing army of hardworking sole traders, delivery men and small businesses on whom the economy depends.”