The UK’s heavy goods vehicle (HGV) sector faces mounting pressures from falling driver numbers, an ageing workforce and training gaps, according to Logistics UK’s Compliance Report 2025.
The report reveals that at the start of 2025, the UK had 293,714 active HGV drivers, a decline of 1.9% from the previous year and the fall has been largely driven by a reduction in UK-born drivers, down by 12,183 (4.5%). This has been partly offset by an increase of 4,415 EU nationals working in the sector, up 15.4%, which the report suggests may reflect better working conditions and reduced post-Brexit barriers.
Kevin Green, Acting Chief Executive of Logistics UK, said, “Without logistics, the UK economy would grind to a halt. But our research shows that the HGV sector is facing a declining workforce, ageing demographics and training gaps. The situation is being compounded by the government’s decision to discontinue national funding for the HGV Skills Bootcamps programme – an initiative that trained more than 20,000 drivers and achieved a 72% job placement rate. Our sector is the lifeblood of the UK’s economy and deserves to be invested in to futureproof our workforce.”
The report also highlights a continuing shift towards larger operators. Over the past decade, the number of operator licences in Great Britain has fallen by 12.4%, while the number of vehicles per licence has risen by 9.4%. According to Logistics UK, this trend suggests that bigger operators are better placed to withstand economic pressures, respond to regulation, and modernise their fleets.
Despite workforce concerns, the report praises the industry’s strong compliance record. Senior Traffic Commissioner Kevin Rooney, in the foreword, noted that incidents of non-compliance are “exceptions rather than the rule”.
MOT data supports this view: the initial failure rate for HGVs has dropped from 32.4% in 2008/09 to 10.3% in 2024/25, while final failure rates have more than halved, falling from 17.7% to 6.9% over the same period.
Mr Green added, “Compliance will always be central to our industry, and the positive trends highlighted in the report show how seriously operators take their responsibilities. These improvements reflect operational change, cultural shifts, and updates to regulatory requirements.
“But there are still challenges ahead, especially around skills. The sector needs a coordinated approach to recruitment and retention, with government support for alternative training pathways and better working conditions to stabilise the workforce and build resilience.”