A new survey by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles highlighted that van drivers work longer hours now than in 2023 due to increased pressure in their daily workload.
The survey of 1,000 UK van drivers shows that shift times have increased, on average, by 7% compared with February 2023. This means drivers put in an average of 9-hour, 10-minute stints. One in five drivers is seeing that increase to more than 10 hours each day.
This increase in working hours has been seen by almost two-thirds of drivers, with little expectation that this will change any time soon.
According to 68% of those surveyed, rising costs, particularly of materials, have contributed to a bleak economic outlook, leading them to feel there will be little change over the next 12 months. With trade materials such as ready-mixed concrete and flexible pipes and fittings increasing in price by 14.6% and 23.8%, respectively, despite a fall in inflation to 4.2% in January, they may well be right.
Craig Cavanagh, national fleet manager at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “Faced with longer hours and concerns around the rising cost of materials, it’s easy to understand the pressure UK van drivers are feeling around the day-to-day running of their businesses. As part of our ‘Working With You’ commitment, we’re supporting those feeling this added pressure to keep their businesses moving and running costs to a minimum.”
In an effort to ensure businesses can keep the wheels turning without adding too much to the cost burden, Volkswagen has a range of service plans starting from under £10 a month, taking the sting out of unplanned bills and unexpected repair costs.
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