The proportion of transport and storage businesses using or planning to use increased homeworking on a permanent basis has risen more than five-fold in a year, according to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.
The ONS Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS), covering 17 August to 30 August 2026, found that 14.1% of businesses in the transport and storage sector reported using or intending to use increased homeworking permanently.
That compares with 2.8% in the equivalent August 2025 survey, an increase of 11.3 percentage points and the sector’s highest level in more than two years of BICS tracking.
The figures, analysed by delivery specialist Parcelhero, show a similar result for manufacturing, where 14.8% of businesses reported increased homeworking – up from 7.7% a year earlier.
Manufacturing’s figure has also risen sharply in recent months, increasing from 9.8% in May 2026.
By contrast, wholesale and retail businesses appear to be moving in the opposite direction. The proportion reporting increased homeworking fell to 12.2% in August, from 18% in May and 14.1% in August 2025.
David Jinks, Parcelhero head of consumer research, said the increase in transport and storage was notable given the sector’s reliance on operational and site-based roles.
He commented: “It’s genuinely striking to see transport & storage – a sector built around drivers, warehouse staff and dispatch teams who simply can’t do their core job from the kitchen table – recording one of the sharpest rises in homeworking adoption of any sector we track.
“A year ago, fewer than 3 in 100 transport and logistics firms were embracing increased homeworking as a permanent model; now it’s more than 14 in 100, similar to manufacturing.”
Turning to the underlying causes Jinks said: “What’s likely happening is that back-office, planning, customer service and fleet management functions within transport and logistics businesses are increasingly being shifted to home or hybrid working, even while the frontline delivery operation stays firmly on the road.
“Manufacturing is on a similar trajectory, with more back-office and design functions moving home. It shows homeworking is no longer just an option for desk-based, digital sectors.”
The BICS has tracked businesses’ homeworking patterns since September 2020. Jinks noted that transport and storage has historically had smaller sample sizes for this particular BICS question and figures have been volatile in some previous survey waves.
However, he added: “Even allowing for this note of caution - this jump in flexible working in logistics is remarkable. What remains to be seen is the impact of AI on flexible work practices within the industry.”
Jinks said Parcelhero’s recent research suggests artificial intelligence is likely to change working patterns across logistics, warehousing, shipping and freight, although it did not expect AI to result in the level of job losses predicted by some analysts. The Parcelhero report “Putting the AI into supply chAIns” can be found here.
