New Webfleet Study: “What Van Drivers Want”

Drivers in the light commercial vehicle segment in Europe predominantly desire more safety on the roads, better road infrastructure, and less traffic congestion. This was revealed by an exclusive survey conducted by Webfleet, one of the leading providers of fleet management solutions, among nearly 1,000 light commercial vehicle drivers.

(Zurich) As part of the Webfleet study, nearly 1,000 drivers in the light commercial vehicle segment (vans, delivery vehicles) across Europe were asked to evaluate certain factors and challenges in their daily work and in which areas they seek support and improvements.

What Drivers Want

For 44% of the surveyed drivers, higher traffic safety is the most important aspect that would make their daily work easier. This is followed by “Better road infrastructure” (41%) and “Less lost time due to traffic disruptions” (39%). The results are almost consistent regardless of the drivers’ experience. However, it is noteworthy that more experienced drivers in the survey (drivers with more than 16 years behind the wheel) expressed a greater desire for better road infrastructure. This could indicate that the problem has either worsened over time or has not improved sufficiently.

The Biggest Challenges Drivers Face in Their Daily Work

Drivers were also asked about specific challenges in their professional lives. Most drivers rated traffic disruptions/congestion as difficult or extremely difficult. This is followed by “Finding parking spaces” and “Driving style and behavior of other road users”.

Interestingly, factors related to the work processes within their own company were mentioned less frequently as problems. This suggests that events beyond the company’s control – that is, what happens on the road – are the biggest pain points for drivers, for which they seek support.

What Drivers Say About Their Work

A clear majority of drivers report high to very high job satisfaction. 48% of drivers indicated that “doing my job well” is the most important aspect of their work. The desire to return home safely was mentioned second most frequently. A good relationship with customers ranked third.

In the survey, drivers also indicated that they have limited access to digital solutions that could assist them in their daily work. When asked to choose from a list of ten possible solutions, the majority of drivers indicated that they do not have access to these digital solutions in most cases. However, when asked how much they would like to use each solution, the majority indicated that they would do so in any case.

“Our study paints a very insightful picture of how drivers in the light commercial vehicle segment across Europe view their work, the challenges they face, and what improvements and support they desire,” says Wolfgang Schmid, Webfleet Head of Central Region. “It is clear that issues of traffic, safety, and infrastructure are a persistent pain point across Europe.”

“Interestingly, the majority of drivers work without support in the form of digital fleet management solutions, yet most drivers desire these. This contradicts the assumption of some that drivers have a negative attitude towards such solutions.”

About the Study

The survey was conducted between July 25 and August 2, 2023, by the market research agency OnePoll among 960 drivers in the light commercial vehicle segment (vans, delivery vehicles). A driver in the light commercial vehicle segment is defined as someone for whom driving a van or delivery vehicle is an essential part of their workday.

Link to the study webpage

Photo: © Webfleet