Guidance & Support

As the UK’s automotive sector—now worth around £100 billion—moves towards electrification, new research highlights a looming crisis in key driving roles. While government targets push for 80% electric vehicle (EV) production by 2030, a major shortfall in skilled workers across logistics and maintenance is on the horizon.

HGV drivers are among the most at-risk, with projections suggesting a complete shortage by 2029. Despite efforts to attract more drivers, an ageing workforce and lower-than-average salaries continue to hamper recruitment. Meanwhile, delivery driver roles could see a severe gap by 2037, with tens of thousands of vacancies already reported in 2025 alone.

The rapid rise of EVs is also transforming the needs of the workforce. Vehicle technicians, especially those skilled in EV diagnostics and repair, are in growing demand—yet only 24% of current technicians are EV-qualified. Without targeted investment and training, the UK could face a technician shortfall by 2047.

Not all roles are in decline. Waste collection and car sales jobs are seeing renewed interest, with search demand rising 440% and 83% respectively. As the industry evolves, it’s clear that embracing new technologies and workforce development will be essential in avoiding widespread disruption across the automotive sector.

The Scottish Government has unveiled a £2 million fund to accelerate the shift towards low-emission Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs). The 2025–26 HGV Market Readiness Fund is designed to support collaboration across the freight sector – bringing together hauliers, manufacturers, finance providers and charging infrastructure specialists to help pave the way for a greener road freight future.

This latest initiative follows groundwork laid in 2024 through the HGV Decarbonisation Pathway, which identified key areas for investment and mapped out where infrastructure will be most needed to support zero-emission HGVs across Scotland. Half of the funding has been ringfenced specifically for small and medium-sized operators, who are often most affected by the high costs of decarbonisation.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop highlighted the importance of collective effort: “We’ve learned from our work on bus decarbonisation and are applying those lessons to freight. Smaller firms play a huge role in Scotland’s logistics industry, so it’s vital they aren’t left behind as we move towards net zero.”

Industry leaders have welcomed the move. The Road Haulage Association and Logistics UK both praised the fund, emphasising its potential to ease the financial burden on smaller operators and help overcome key barriers to adopting green technologies within the HGV sector.

Plans to expand two busy A-roads in eastern England have been scrapped due to funding shortfalls, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has confirmed. The proposed widening of the A12 near Chelmsford and a new dual carriageway on the A47 between Wansford and Sutton will no longer proceed, as the government shifts its infrastructure priorities.

The A12 upgrade, a £1.2 billion initiative, aimed to improve a 15-mile stretch between Chelmsford and Marks Tey, used by around 90,000 vehicles daily. Originally approved under Rishi Sunak’s government in early 2024, the project has now been shelved, with Alexander citing its high cost and lack of financial planning. She criticised the previous administration for announcing projects without securing funding, stating her department would only back schemes that are affordable and deliver taxpayer value.

Local leaders have expressed disappointment. Essex County Council’s Deputy Leader, Louise McKinlay, labelled the cancellation “hugely disappointing,” stressing the road’s urgent need for improvement and describing the route as “unfit for purpose.”

The A47 project, which planned to dual a 1.6-mile section of road in Cambridgeshire, was also axed. Alexander noted that £500 million is already being spent on other A47 improvements and said future investment would be redirected to underfunded regions in the North and Midlands to better balance national infrastructure spending.

DHL has been selected as the official global logistics partner for the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the organization responsible for overseeing international motorsport and promoting mobility worldwide. The new partnership will see DHL managing key logistical operations for Formula 1, Formula 2, and Formula 3 events, including the transportation and setup of mobile office spaces, garages, and racetrack equipment.

In this role, DHL will be responsible for ensuring the smooth delivery and installation of essential infrastructure at race venues. The company’s expertise in motorsport logistics will be crucial in maintaining the high standards required for elite racing events. This includes handling sensitive equipment used in timing, safety, and race management.

A central theme of the partnership is environmental responsibility. DHL will be integrating sustainable practices into its operations by deploying trucks powered by hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) for races across Europe. The use of alternative fuels reflects both organizations' shared goals to reduce emissions and promote cleaner technologies in motorsport logistics.

FIA's chief commercial officer, Craig Edmondson, emphasized the importance of aligning with partners who prioritize sustainability. He noted that this collaboration offers not only operational support at racing events but also a chance to further embed eco-conscious practices throughout the motorsport ecosystem.

The government has outlined a fresh approach to international trade, aiming to enhance economic security and build stronger ties with global partners. The newly announced Trade Strategy, revealed by the Department for Business and Trade, focuses on a more flexible policy in light of rising protectionism and geopolitical challenges. Key proposals include £20 billion of new backing through UK Export Finance, updates to border operations, and the launch of both a Supply Chains Centre and an Economic Security Advisory Service.

These new bodies will work to safeguard essential trade routes and provide guidance on economic risks such as supply chain interruptions and the misuse of trade as a political tool. Logistics UK welcomed the plans but stressed the need for the sector to play a central role in delivering them. The industry highlighted the urgency of implementing digital customs solutions, including the Single Trade Window, to ease trade flows post-Brexit, particularly for small businesses.

The strategy promises to simplify export processes, reduce paperwork through digital documentation, and introduce new funding to help break down trade barriers. A dedicated scheme for small exporters will also offer easier access to finance and insurance through a digital platform, helping smaller firms engage in global markets more effectively.

With a focus on key growth industries like clean energy and advanced manufacturing, the government hopes new trade agreements, including a deal with India, will open up further opportunities. At the same time, efforts will be made to tackle the decline in EU exports by cutting bureaucracy and improving regulatory cooperation.

Heavy goods vehicles using the Dartford Crossing will soon face higher fees, as the government has announced a notable rise in charges. From September, lorries will pay £8.40 per crossing — an increase of £2.40. Even those with pre-paid accounts won’t escape the hike, with rates climbing 39% to £7.20 for vehicles with more than two axles.

Smaller goods vehicles with two axles will also see new rates introduced. They’ll be charged £4.20 for single journeys, or £3.60 if using a pre-payment account. Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood acknowledged the increase would not be welcomed by many but pointed out that traffic demand has grown significantly since charges were last adjusted in 2014.

With daily traffic at the crossing averaging 150,000 vehicles, and peaking at 180,000 on the busiest days, the bridge is handling more than it was designed for. The minister said the rise in tolls was essential to help manage congestion and improve flow for both drivers and residents nearby.

Industry voices, including the Road Haulage Association’s James Barwise, have expressed concern. He warned the added cost comes at a difficult time for hauliers and could mean higher costs passed on to consumers. The need for the delayed Lower Thames Crossing is now seen as more urgent than ever.

A 42-tonne fully electric articulated lorry has completed a ten-day trial moving steel from British Steel’s Teesside site to customers nationwide. Operated by long-standing haulage partner AV Dawson Transport and arranged through e-fleet specialist VEV, the vehicle clocked more than 1,800 miles across 42 separate trips, cutting 2.3 tonnes of CO₂ compared with a conventional diesel unit.

A senior representative from the steelmaker said the business chooses logistics providers with strong sustainability plans and was “pleased to see practical proof that zero-emission heavy haulage can meet the demands of our supply chain”. The exercise covered a mix of urban and motorway routes to test range, charging arrangements and real-world energy use under full payload.

Following the successful pilot, the logistics firm is assessing further electrification alongside alternative fuels as part of a wider strategy to decarbonise its fleet. It believes transitioning its HGVs could eventually eliminate millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases generated each year by industrial freight movements in the UK, while helping drivers and local communities benefit from quieter, cleaner roads.

Lower-carbon transport also delivers gains for customers. Because tailpipe emissions from contractors count towards a manufacturer’s Scope 3 footprint, every electric mile removes indirect greenhouse gases from British Steel’s balance sheet, supporting the company’s commitment to reach net-zero across its wider supply chain.

More than half of motorists think the heaviest vehicles should pay extra towards fixing Britain’s battered roads, a survey by Kwik Fit reveals. Fifty-six per cent believe haulage firms ought to face a dedicated ‘pothole levy’, while only 17 per cent object. A similar sentiment applies to delivery vans, with 44 per cent backing a weight-related charge and 23 per cent opposed.

Support extends to private motoring: 48 per cent want higher Vehicle Excise Duty for heavy cars, against 21 per cent who object. Kwik Fit’s 2025 Pothole Impact Tracker puts last year’s repair bills for pothole damage at £1.7 billion. The Asphalt Industry Alliance says councils need £16.8 billion to clear the maintenance backlog, up 42 per cent since 2016, while drivers’ costs have surged 150 per cent.

Operations director Dan Joyce says the funding conundrum remains, with only 26 per cent ready to pay higher tax for local repairs. “Drivers feel they already give enough and expect heavier vehicles to shoulder the extra,” he observed, warning that any levy on lorries or vans would likely be passed on to shoppers.

Age matters: 40 per cent of Gen Z and 38 per cent of Millennials would accept a surcharge, versus 18 per cent of Gen X and 15 per cent of Boomers. Despite new government funding pledges, 64 per cent of motorists still doubt their local roads will improve any time soon, even with promises stretching into the next Parliament.

The UK’s trading ties with the EU have taken a deeper hit post-Brexit than those of its European counterparts, according to Logistics UK. New analysis shows UK exports to the EU have dropped by 23% since 2017, while imports have only fallen 5%. Logistics UK President Phil Roe presented the figures at Multimodal 2025, calling for urgent progress on border reforms agreed during the recent UK-EU summit.

Roe pointed to several global pressures - such as the pandemic and conflicts in Ukraine and the Red Sea - but stressed that Brexit has uniquely harmed UK exporters. Containerised shipments have followed a similar pattern, with EU-bound exports down 21% and imports from the EU again more stable. Roe highlighted that the UK still heavily depends on EU trade, but exporters face mounting obstacles.

He blamed the disparity on post-Brexit controls, particularly Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks, which have introduced new costs, delays and administrative burdens for UK businesses - especially those trading in perishable goods. Products like meat, fish, dairy and fresh produce have seen double-digit export drops since 2017.

To recover lost ground, Roe urged swift implementation of a UK-EU SPS agreement, arguing that dynamic alignment could eliminate many barriers and reignite trade in agri-food products, provided businesses are involved in shaping the new rules.

Parcel carrier DPD has earmarked £330 million for a fresh wave of expansion, commissioning seven 60,000 sq ft distribution hubs that will nudge the company towards its fiftieth purpose-built depot and bolster a nationwide web of more than eighty regional sorting centres. The multi-year programme reflects soaring e-commerce volumes and heightened customer demand for rapid, predictable deliveries.

Each site will be fitted with automated sorters capable of handling up to 80,000 parcels a day and room for upwards of 100 additional delivery routes. Ground will be broken first in Crawley and Darlington, followed by Cambridge, Bradford, Guildford, Milton Keynes and Sittingbourne, with all seven facilities scheduled to open their doors by early 2027. The depots will operate round the clock and include on-site charging for electric vans.

“This round of investment accelerates the modernisation of our network,” said Tim Jones, director of marketing, communications and sustainability at DPDgroup UK. “As 38 per cent of our van fleet is already electric, these depots will be served by ever-cleaner vehicles, shrinking our carbon footprint and edging us closer to net-zero.”

The logistics specialist hopes the upgrade will enhance service resilience while underpinning its sustainability goals. Sector watchers will have a chance to hear more at Logistics Manager’s Sustainable Supply Chain Conference in London next June, where representatives from Defra, the NHS and major brands will discuss how greener operations can boost the bottom line.