The logistics industry stepped up to deliver for the nation in 2020, despite facing a worsening shortage of HGV drivers, economic and financial hardship, and significant disruption to operations, according to Logistics UK. The business group has launched its COVID-19 Logistics Report 1, which provides a detailed overview on how the pandemic has affected logistics businesses and the steps they have taken to overcome these challenges.

“Despite facing significant operational and financial disruption since March 2020, the logistics industry has stepped up to ensure it continues to supply the nation with the goods it needs, including food supplies and PPE,” said Elizabeth de Jong, the organisation’s Director of Policy. “The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted how critical our industry and its people are to the success of the economy; Logistics UK is proud of the way in which its member businesses, and the wider industry, have worked together to service the needs of the nation during this critical time.

“To deal with the COVID-19 crisis, logistics businesses managed risk by scaling back operations, taking work back in-house and reducing their reliance on third-party services; many also focused activity on their core fleet of vehicles to save costs.”

In the early stages of the COVID-19 restrictions in March 2020, 85% of respondents to Logistics UK’s COVID-19 surveys reported a general business downturn, with work and orders cancelled. This reduced to 60% by the end of May, with supply chain disruption since easing further. The report also highlights that delivery times have improved due to less congestion as a result of fewer cars on the road compared with normal levels.

The report brings together national statistics and analysis conducted specifically for Logistics UK, in addition to exclusive data from surveys conducted with the group’s members in the first ten weeks of lockdown, and its monthly Logistics Performance Tracker surveys.