Logistics UK's Logistics Performance Tracker

Logistics UK has launched the Logistics Performance Tracker – a survey we will be sending every quarter – to monitor the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on logistics and the health and needs of the sector.

The Coronavirus pandemic has had an extreme and far-reaching effect on all our personal and working lives, and logistics has been at the heart of enabling the economy to continue and supplying the goods people need.

Our survey work so far has enabled us to make effective cases for the many easements and relaxations agreed with Government – including those on testing, drivers’ hours and driver licensing.

We have launched the Logistics Performance Tracker so we can make the case for the sector on your behalf. Please take five minutes to complete the questions that apply to you and your business.

As the wider economy begins to reopen, Logistics UK needs your responses to:

• Ensure we understand how logistics is recovering and whether parts of the sector are under stress.
• Tailor the information we provide you and effectively target our representation of businesses’ needs.
• Ensure Government understands the support companies require and what barriers are limiting a return to growth.

Please rest assured that Logistics UK will comply with the GDPR and that the data collected through the survey is anonymous and you are not asked for any company or personal identification.

Logistics UK Industry Panel.

With the future shape of the economy and ongoing impact of COVID-19 still unclear, the need for Logistics UK to ensure Government understands the effect of its policies and the support businesses in logistics require is as essential as ever.

To help strengthen Logistics UK’s work on behalf of the sector, we established the Logistics UK Industry Panel.

Those invited to join the Panel are able to provide valued feedback through our Logistics Performance Tracker each quarter, which is then used as evidence to support our cases with Government.

In addition, members of the Panel receive a detailed industry report of the survey results, along with commentary and analysis of relevant, national statistics.

For more information about joining the Panel, please email our research team.

Learn about the findings of our Logistics Performance Tracker using the link below.

• Tracker 1 (17 June 2020):  Around 360 businesses completed the first Logistics Performance Tracker, averaging a positive score of 6.08 (out of 10.00) on how confident they felt about the business outlook for their companies in the coming six months. They also rated the current financial health of their company at 6.63 (out of 10.00) and said Government support in the forms of loans, grant and tax breaks, business rate relief and the extension of the furlough scheme would help their businesses return to normal levels of performance.
• Tracker 2 (26 June 2020): Around 200 businesses completed the second Logistics Performance Tracker, averaging a positive score of 6.06 (out of 10.00) on how confident they felt about the business outlook for their companies in the coming six months, little changed from the first survey. Nearly 80% said business rate relief would help their businesses return to normal levels of performance, deferring VAT/NI and corporation tax, extending the furloughing scheme and renegotiation of fixed costs, such as leases and insurance, were also important.
• Tracker 3 (7 July 2020): Again, around 200 businesses completed the third Logistics Performance Tracker, with scores on business outlook for the coming six months and current financial health decreasing to 5.91 and 6.28 (out of 10.00) respectively. Businesses continue to experience delays in receiving goods from abroad, and reducing Fuel Duty remained the most common answer when respondents were asked what would help their business continue or resume trading.
• Tracker 4 (August 2020): Taking on our new monthly format, August's survey revealed business confidence has plummeted since January 2020, though the outlook is positive and logistics businesses reported good financial health. Road congestion and delivery times are still favourable, despite commercial vehicle traffic levels returning to normal, with relatively few logistics businesses reporting parked-up vehicles.
• Tracker 5 (September 2020): Business outlook for the next six months is positive, but has fallen slightly in September compared to August, as has the financial health of respondent companies. Further exploration of the results found that 13.6% of respondents rated the financial health of their company as below 5, which is up from 6.6% a month ago. Large fleets are less likely to experience poor financial health.
• Tracker 6 (October 2020): This month, preparedness for the end of the EU transition period was measured: it was generally positive, with an average rating of 6.2. Business outlook for the next six months is positive, but it has fallen slightly for the second month in a row, while the financial health of respondent companies rose in October. Large fleets are less likely to experience poor financial health.
• Tracker 7 (November 2020): Road congestion and delivery times continue to be positively impacted by disruption caused by coronavirus restrictions. This is likely due to the reduction in car traffic in England, after the 5 November COVID-19 restrictions were announced. Car traffic in GB is 34% lower than pre-March lockdown levels; this will have the effect of reducing traffic density. Again, recruitment is becoming more difficult this month, along with driver availability, as demand grows for road haulage. Respondents reported increased delays on Ro-Ro routes.
• Tracker 8 (December 2020): Logistics businesses made greater use of short-term vehicle hire in the first two weeks of December, in order to meet pre-Christmas demand and end of EU transition period stockpiling. HGV weekend traffic was 22% higher in the first two weeks of December when compared to pre-March lockdown levels, as haulage businesses continued to maximise productivity with seven-day deliveries in the run up to Christmas and to meet demand. Driver availability continues to be problematic as demand grows for road haulage this month, especially in the run up to Christmas.
• Tracker 9 (February 2021): Rising fuel prices and availability of fuel are beginning to negatively impact logistics businesses. HGV traffic is now at normal levels (i.e. pre-March 2020 lockdown levels). Driver availability continues to be problematic as demand grows for road haulage this month. Use of short-term vehicle hire in February was similar to the first two weeks of December suggesting that demand has continued apace and was not just due to meeting pre-Christmas demand and end of EU transition period stockpiling. Following the end of the Brexit transition period at the end of December 2020, 58% of respondents reported delays, extended delivery times to the EU and excessive paperwork with many concerned about their suppliers receiving vehicle parts. In February, HGV drivers and mechanics remained the hardest roles to fill, with over two-thirds of respondents experiencing problems filling vacancies. 
• Tracker 10 (March 2021): Rising fuel prices are continuing to exert upward pressure on operating costs; this has negative implications for haulage firms, since diesel accounts for nearly one-third of the cost of running a 44 tonne gvw truck. Road congestion and delivery times are still positively impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, through a reduction in traffic density. Delays in receiving goods, additional paperwork and changes in transport costs were the top three concerns affecting businesses since the Brexit transition period ended on 31 December 2020.
• Tracker 11 (Q2, May 2021): Taking on our new quarterly format, our q2 tracker reported concern over the ability to fill staff vacancies was widespread across logistics roles with recruitment of HGV drivers considered a ‘severe’ or ‘very severe’ problem by 61% of respondents; members also cited availability of driver vocational testing as a ‘moderate’ or ‘extreme’ barrier to recovery (51%). Of those respondents who reported they were ‘more affected’ by post-Brexit impacts on operations, the top three reasons were, additional paperwork (92%), suppliers experiencing delays in receiving parts (91%) and increases in transport costs (90%). Since the same time last year, the majority of respondents, 91%, said they were experiencing more delays on deep sea container routes, 86%, said they were experiencing more delays in receiving goods from abroad, and 62% were seeing more delays in receiving goods from Northern Ireland. Just under 70% of respondents were either ‘dissatisfied’ or ‘very dissatisfied’ with the availability of electric HGVs. This figure reduced to 37% for electric van availability but only 11% were satisfied or very satisfied.
• Tracker 12 (Q3, September 2021): Overall business confidence has recovered to pre-pandemic levels while fuel prices, recruitment of skilled staff and filled vacancies have significantly worsened. Over half of respondents reported more HGVs parked up compared to normal levels of business, which is up from 25% in May 2021. Several reasons were given for the increase in parked up vehicles: 83% of respondents attributed this to the general lack of available drivers, 46% to IR35 changes affecting the number of drivers available, 16% attributed it to the backlog of drivers needing CPC certification, while 49% stated that it was due to drivers self-isolating.
• Tracker 13 (Q4, November 2021). Driver shortage continues to impact many areas of business as availability and recruitment of HGV drivers showed only slight improvement in the three months to November. HGV driver roles are still the most difficult to fill with 93% of respondents. reporting problems in recruiting drivers. The majority of contributors (84%) raised driver pay in the past six months. 43% of respondents reported more HGVs parked up compared to normal levels of business, which is down from 54% in September 2021. As staff shortages persist, companies are not making redundancies and are seeking to recruit and retain workers and invest in training. Fuel prices have risen, and since diesel accounts for around one-third of the cost of running a 44 tonne gvw truck.

View survey results

Logistics UK's Coronavirus Logistics Impact Surveys