The road haulage industry is part of the logistics sector, represented by the Skills for Logistics Sector Skills Council, which also includes: air freight; wholesaling; storage and warehousing; freight forwarding; postal services; and couriers. Logistics is the movement and supply of all goods (or freight) from raw materials, through all stages of the manufacturing process to the delivery of the finished product to companies and consumers. This is known as the ‘supply chain.’ Nearly 2,320,000 people work in the logistics sector, which accounts to 8% of the UK workforce. It has been estimated that the logistics sector is worth £86.54 billion to the UK economy.
Road haulage is the distribution, movement and supply of goods by road. Road haulage, which includes removal services, is the third largest industry in the logistics sector. The amount of freight that was moved in the UK increased by 46% between 1980 and 2007. The majority of the increase is due to goods being moved by road.
Key facts:
- 13% of the logistics sector workforce is within freight transport by road.
- Road haulage now accounts for 68% of all goods moved compared with 53% in 1980.
- A total of 220,000 people are employed in UK road haulage in the UK, which is estimated to be 13% of the entire logistics sector workforce.
- There are 34,000 road haulage workplaces in the UK.
- Freight transport by road employs the smallest proportion of women and people with a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background than other logistics industries.
- 12% of the industry workforce is self‐employed.
Jobs in the industry range from: LGV driver, LGV training instructor, distribution manager, removals worker, road transport manager, van driver, transport planner, transport scheduler, road haulage load planner, drivers mate, supply chain manager, operations manager, yard person, training manager, marketing co‐ordinator, operations director, freight account manager, financial planning manager, general manager.
National and regional data
Retail employment and activity are evenly distributed across the UK, with the largest number of employees is located in:
- South East
- London
- East of England
- North West
The largest number of employers is located in: London; the South East; and the North West. There are distinct clusters of major centres of retail in London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leicester and Derby.
The highest percentage growth in employment over the next five years is expected in the North East, whilst significant declines are forecast in the South East, London and the North West.
Retail can play an important role in the regeneration of towns and cities throughout the UK. It provides a catalyst for change, as retailers seek to enhance their offer to the consumer and modernise the spaces within which they trade.
East Midlands – There are 189,408 people employed in the industry, in around 19,634 retail establishments. 63% of the workforce is female. 43% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with customer handling and verbal communication skills.
East of England – There are 274,350 people employed in the industry, in around 25,258 retail establishments. 60% of the workforce is female. 42% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with customer handling, problem solving and management skills.
London – There are 376,523 people employed in the industry, in around 39,414 retail establishments. 55% of the workforce is female. 50% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with management, customer handling and problem solving skills.
North East – There are 106,513 people employed in the industry, in around 10,569 retail establishments. 65% of the workforce is female. 41% of the workforce work full‐time.
North West – There are 318,406 people employed in the industry, in around 32,814 retail establishments. 62% of the workforce is female. 45% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with technical, practical or job specific skills, team working and management skills.
South East – There are 398,069 people employed in the industry, in around 38,926 retail establishments. 59% of the workforce is female. 44% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with customer handling, technical, practical or job specific and team working skills.
South West – There are 254,668 people employed in the industry, in around 26,398 retail establishments. 62% of the workforce is female. 42% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with customer handling, technical, practical or job specific and management skills.
West Midlands – There are 237,529 people employed in the industry, in around 25,352 retail establishments. 62% of the workforce is female. 43% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with team working and customer handling skills.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are 236,430 people employed in the industry, in around 24,251 retail establishments. 62% of the workforce is female. 44% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with management skills.
Northern Ireland – There are 74,491 people employed in the industry, in around 9,805 retail establishments. 58% of the workforce is female. 54% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with customer handling, written communication and management skills.
Scotland – There are 245,960 people employed in the industry, in around 23,978 retail establishments. 62% of the workforce is female. 44% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with customer handling, written communication and management skills.
Wales – There are 133,459 people employed in the industry, in around 13,765 retail establishments. 63% of the workforce is female. 42% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with customer handling, written communication and management skills.
[N.B. Data derived from Annual Business Inquiry, 2008, Labour Force Survey (annualised), 2009, and NESS, 2009.]
