Three-quarters of operators plan to spend on fleet vehicles during 2022, MT reader research reveals

Operators answering the latest Motor Transport and Commercial Motor ‘Hot Topic: Sector Insight 2022' survey showed a renewed confidence for the year ahead, with 75% planning to invest in fleet vehicles.

The figure is up 12 percentage points on last year’s survey, when operators were in the midst of Covid-19 lockdowns and fluctuating customer volumes.

In second place when it came to 2022 investment was staff recruitment and training, with 57% picking this as a key priority, and in third place was an increase to staff wages, at 49%. Both of these figures are up substantially from a year ago, which reflects the necessity of operators to focus on recruiting and retaining experienced drivers given the industry-wide shortage of skilled workers.

For those hauliers planning to invest in their fleets, our survey discovered that 37% of these would be buying new trucks. Approximately one-fifth (21%) of operators were looking to spend on second-hand trucks, with 20% planning a mixture of both.

The average number of vehicles operators planned to add to their fleets next year stood at 10.2 units, which is slightly up on last year’s figure of 9.4.

“The 'Hot Topic: Sector Insight 2022' report provides an interesting snapshot into operator confidence for the year ahead, as well as what they perceive key industry challenges to be,” said MT events and projects editor Hayley Pink.

“It looks at topical issues such as fleet decarbonisation and driver recruitment, through to repair, maintenance and tyre strategies, to see how operators are handling the complexities of today’s trading environment.”

You can download the 'Hot Topic: Sector Insight 2022' report free of charge, as well as browse a range of previous research pieces created by Motor Transport and Commercial Motor.