Stressful working conditions are affecting HGV drivers’ ability to do their job and half have considered quitting because of it, new research has found.

Most UK van and lorry drivers (90%) said work-related stress had a negative impact on their driving, but half said they were uncomfortable approaching their employer for help and 39% felt their bosses offered only a low level of support.

Nearly all of the 500 UK commercial vehicle drivers surveyed (97%) in the work commissioned by telematics firm Geotab said that the risk of accidents had increased over the last five years

Geotab said this was backed up by real-world data, which showed that the total distance per collision driven by HGV and van operators in the UK decreased by almost one-fifth (19.12%) in 2023, from 920,000 miles to 740,000 miles.

It said this potentially translated into an additional 20 collisions every year for a large company running 1,000 lorries.

Geotab said the findings were a stark reminder of the stresses of professional driving: “Commercial vehicle drivers keep our economy moving and have come under increased pressure following the Covid-19 pandemic and massive uplift in home and business deliveries,” said Edward Kulperger, senior VP at Geotab.

“It’s concerning to see how drivers feel under-supported when it comes to managing stress and other mental health concerns.”

Geotab and other automotive industry peers are hosting a webinar during Road Safety Week, which runs from 17-23 November, to shine a light on the pressures faced by the UK’s commercial vehicle drivers and the type of actions employers can take to make their lives easier and reduce stress.

You can sign up here.

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