Did you know that it takes 400 plus delivery vans to distribute all the toilet roll used by the residents of London each day? – this figure highlights the importance of the delivery van to our today’s way of life.

And no matter what else is happening in the economy – concerns relations within China, Brexit – COVID19, one thing is for certain the van market will continue to grow at pace.

All the growth is coming in the panel van sector, such as the 2.5t - 3.5t market, which is now ahead of last year.

In fact, the van market has virtually doubled over the past 10 years

Boosting this dramatic growth is the huge increase in online shopping & home delivery.

The increase in the demand for home delivery has driven growth in the 3.5 tonne delivery van market, the Luton van market and even to some extent the 7.5 tonne vehicle sector, where retailers of white goods such as fridge freezers and washing machines have seen growth.

For many delivery companies, all that’s required is the good old fashioned Ford Transit van, or similar.

Chilled vehicles & multi-compartment vehicles are on the increase too, mainly because of the grocery market. These vehicles allow them to carry out the delivery of frozen, chilled and ambient goods, all on the same vehicle.

There is one thing that the majority of home delivery operators want as standard on their delivery vehicles, this is an automatic gearbox, due to the stop-start nature of the job.

Online grocery customers tend to pick the heaviest items for home delivery – cans and bottles, so there is a concerted effort to strip vans of non-essential items to give them more cargo-carrying capacity.

Electric Powered Vehicles

Electric vehicles are extremely beneficial in built-up areas. In recent years many Couriers in the Manchester area also have become more sustainable, by using fleets of 100 per cent electric, zero-emission vehicles.

Electric vehicles are good for short distance work, such as urban deliveries, while diesel models can offer a better range.

The problem is, compared to the diesel version, an electric-powered vehicle adds extra weight to the van. This isn’t a big problem for couriers carrying out regular parcel deliveries, but it is a deal-breaker for the supermarkets such as Tesco & Waitrose, where weight is at a premium.

The Shift From Delivery Trucks To Courier Vans

One of the factors that have contributed to the growth in the number of couriers using vans on the road is the change to driving licence regulations that mean new drivers can no longer drive 7.5-tonne trucks on a car licence.

Around 20 years ago the 7.5-tonne vehicle market accounted for 20,000 vehicles a year – this figure has fallen to about 5,000, which is clear that this is largely a result of the change to driving licences in 1997.

Car drivers could drive a 7.5 tonner on their car licences under grandfather rights. Now they need a category C licence, and as a result, courier companies are using heavier vehicles – or down to 3.5 tonners.

Transport companies have opted for heavier vehicles, right up to 18-tonne vehicles, the top weight for a two-axle vehicle.

However a 7. tonner is still the appropriate vehicle for many haulage firms, and it still has a lot to offer.

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