Surveys
Logistics Performance Tracker
The Logistics Performance Tracker (LPT) is a quarterly survey to improve understanding of the current condition of this vital industry sector. It also gives insights into logistics businesses’ financial health and outlook, and trends in the sector over the long term. Logistics UK also uses the findings to inform its responses to consultations on government policy. The full quarterly survey findings are sent to respondents via email.
Most recent tracker results – LPT Q2 2026 results
Headline findings include:
Business outlook and financial health
• UK GDP growth decreased at 0.4% in Q2 2026 compared with 0.6% in Q1 2026, as well as the transport and storage sector easing slightly.
• Business outlook improved to 6.5 out of 10 in Q2 2026, up from 5.8 in Q1, reversing the softening seen between Q3 2025 and Q1 2026.
• Financial health edged up to 7.5 out of 10 in Q2 2026, from 7.2 in Q1, suggesting businesses remain financially resilient despite wider cost pressures.
Business impacts
• The near-term outlook improved in Q2 2026, although expectations remain cautious overall.
• Fuel price expectations worsened notably in Q2, remaining the weakest expected trend and a key cost concern for businesses.
• Paying suppliers became the strongest expected trend in Q2, while staff and driver availability also improved compared with Q1.
Supply chain issues
• Supply chain issues eased slightly overall in Q2, indicating marginally lower pressure compared with Q1.
• Transport cost pressures remained the main supply chain issue in Q2, with some easing across other areas.
• Disruption linked to global shipping routes increased, while paperwork, supplier delays and border-related disruption eased slightly.
Freight rates and warehousing
• Freight rates are still expected to rise across all modes in Q2 2026, although expectations softened compared with Q1.
• International road freight remained the strongest area for rate expectations, followed by domestic road, while rail saw the sharpest weakening.
• Warehousing remained broadly unchanged, with most businesses reporting no change and fewer reporting reductions than in Q1.
Staffing and skills
• Workforce growth softened overall in Q2, suggesting weaker short-term recruitment momentum compared with Q1.
• HGV driver sufficiency weakened sharply, with 56.2% reporting sufficient staff in Q2 compared with 79.3% in Q1.
• Vacancy filling conditions improved overall, with warehouse staff showing the strongest improvement and fitters, mechanics and technicians remaining more difficult to recruit.