UK Haulage in 2025: Key Stats Every Operator Needs to Know

If you work in UK haulage, you already know the last few years have been anything but predictable. But 2025 has brought its own distinct set of challenges — and a few genuine bright spots. Whether you're running a fleet of five trucks or fifty, the numbers coming out of this year paint a clear picture of where the industry stands and, more importantly, what you need to be thinking about heading into 2026. Here's a breakdown of the key stats and what they actually mean for your operation.

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The Market Is Contracting — And Margins Are Tighter Than Ever

Let's start with the headline figures, because they matter.

GB-registered HGVs lifted approximately 1.53 billion tonnes of goods in 2025 — a 3% drop year-on-year. Total goods moved in tonne-kilometres fell by 4% to 162 billion, and total vehicle kilometres declined by 2% to 19.0 billion km. On paper, those percentages sound modest. In practice, when you're already operating on thin margins, a 3–4% volume drop hits hard.

And those margins? They've taken a serious knock. Average pre-tax profit margins across the sector slid to just 1.58%, down from 2.6% the previous year. That's an incredibly small buffer when something unexpected goes wrong — a blown engine, a delayed load, or a sudden spike in insurance costs.

Speaking of which, non-fuel operating costs grew by nearly 6% in 2025. That includes:

• National Insurance contributions rising following the Autumn Budget changes
• Insurance costs up around 8%
• Maintenance costs up around 8.1%

The message is straightforward: if your compliance, vehicle maintenance schedules, and operational processes aren't as tight as possible, you're leaving money on the table you simply can't afford to lose right now. Tools like TruckCheck exist precisely to help operators stay on top of defect reporting and vehicle checks without the admin overhead eating into already-squeezed resources.

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New Truck Registrations Are Down — But ZEVs Are Moving Fast

New HGV registrations fell 10% to 40,504 units in 2025. Rigid HGVs took the biggest hit with a 14.1% decline, while artics proved more resilient with a smaller 4.3% dip. That gap tells a story — operators who are spending money are prioritising the most versatile vehicles. If you're running rigids and considering a refresh, the current market suggests many of your competitors are sitting on their hands for now.

Zero-Emission Trucks: Promising, But Not There Yet

Here's the genuinely exciting news: zero-emission HGV (ZEV) registrations jumped 170.5% in 2025 to 587 units, pushing the total UK ZEV fleet past the 1,000-vehicle milestone. That's real momentum.

But context matters. ZEVs still represent just 1.4% of new registrations, and the barriers remain significant:

• High upfront capital costs compared to diesel equivalents
• Grid connection delays at depots, which can stretch up to 15 years in some parts of the country

If you're thinking about electrifying part of your fleet, the business case needs careful planning — particularly around your depot's power infrastructure. The technology is moving, but the grid isn't always keeping up.

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The Driver Shortage Is Getting Worse, Not Better

This one deserves its own section, because it's arguably the most serious long-term threat facing UK haulage right now.

By the end of 2025, 26% of haulage businesses reported active driver vacancies. That's more than one in four operators struggling to fill seats. But the deeper problem is demographic.

• The average HGV driver in the UK is now 51 years old
• Over 55% of the workforce is aged 50 or above
• Industry estimates suggest the UK will need 200,000 new drivers over the next five years to replace retirees alone

This isn't a short-term blip — it's a structural shift that's been building for over a decade. The challenge for transport managers is real: how do you retain the experienced drivers you have, while actively bringing new, younger talent into the industry?

Retention starts with basics — fair pay, decent working conditions, and treating drivers as professionals rather than commodities. But it also means making their daily working life as friction-free as possible. Streamlined digital walkaround checks, clear defect reporting processes, and transparent communication between drivers and the office all contribute to a working environment people actually want to stay in.

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Policy Changes and What They Mean for Compliance

In June 2025, the UK Government launched its Modern Industrial Strategy, which included a £600 million investment to unlock strategic logistics sites and the creation of a new National Supply Chain Centre. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) welcomed the move, though the industry is still pushing hard for "foundational sector" status to make sure road freight is properly prioritised in infrastructure and skills planning going forward.

Keeping Your Compliance House in Order

With margins thin and scrutiny not easing up, compliance remains non-negotiable. The DVSA Earned Recognition scheme continues to be one of the clearest frameworks available for operators who want to demonstrate genuine commitment to roadworthiness and safety standards. The DVSA Earned Recognition audit standards for HGV operators set out exactly what's expected — from vehicle inspection processes to driver defect reporting — and aligning your operation with those standards isn't just about avoiding DVSA attention. It's about running a tighter, safer, more defensible business.

Whether or not you're formally pursuing Earned Recognition, using the audit standards as a benchmark is a sensible approach for any serious operator.

Empty Miles: A Hidden Cost Worth Tackling

One final stat worth flagging: roughly 31% of total vehicle kilometres in 2025 were "empty miles" — trucks running without a paying load. With fuel and operational costs where they are, that's an enormous drain. More operators are turning to AI-powered route optimisation and digital freight platforms to address this directly, and it's an area where relatively modest investment can deliver meaningful returns.

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2025 has been a tough year for UK haulage by any honest measure. But the industry has navigated worse, and the operators who come out strongest will be the ones who keep their vehicles compliant, their drivers supported, and their processes sharp.

If you want to make vehicle checks and defect reporting one less thing to worry about, try TruckCheck free or get in touch to see how it works.