UK HGVs Hit by Falling Freight, High Empty Miles and Rising Driver Strain

GB HGV traffic showed signs of softening in 2025, government statistics reveal, with freight moved and distance travelled both slipping year‑on‑year.

According to the latest figures, Great Britain’s heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) carried 1.53 billion tonnes last year, down 3% on 2024, while goods moved fell 4% to 162 billion tonne‑kilometres. Total HGV distance also declined by 2% to 19.0 billion vehicle‑kilometres.

Fright Woes!

Domestic road freight statistics, United Kingdom: 2025 - GOV.UK

Empty running remains a persistent problem: HGVs logged 5.9 billion kilometres without freight, equivalent to 31% of all HGV mileage and broadly unchanged from the previous year. Average haul lengths were largely stable at about 105 km (106 km in 2024), with articulated vehicles averaging 134 km and rigid vehicles 58 km.

The report shows increasing volatility in demand, with quarter‑to‑quarter freight flows swinging by as much as 14% compared with swings of up to 8% in 2024. Groupage accounted for the largest share of tonnage at 25%, and the top five commodity groups together made up 72% of goods carried. Some sectors bucked the broader decline: glass, cement and other non‑metallic minerals grew by around 11%.

Intermodal traffic recorded modest gains, rising to 7.3 million journeys (about 5% of total journeys) and handling roughly 130 million tonnes (9% of tonnage).

Meanwhile, labour pressures persist in parts of the industry. Driver shortages and pay levels below the national median were blamed for missed deliveries in some operations, underscoring ongoing recruitment and retention challenges.

Industry analysts said the picture points to a softer domestic freight market, characterised by high levels of empty mileage, uneven demand and continued strain on labour resources.