The UK Road Freight Transport Market report segments the industry into End User Industry (Agriculture, Fishing, and Forestry, Construction, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Mining and Quarrying, Wholesale and Retail Trade, and Others), Destination (Domestic, International), Truckload Specification (Full-Truck-Load (FTL), Less than-Truck-Load (LTL)), and Containerization (Containerized, Non-Containerized).

UK Road Freight Transport Market valued at ~USD 69 Bn, driven by e-commerce growth, infrastructure investments, and tech advancements for efficient logistics.

The road freight transport volume in the United Kingdom declined to 144.2 billion million ton-kilometers in 2020. This decrease was preceded by an increase in transport volume.Road freight transport refers to the transport of cargo by commercial vehicles as part of the logistics chain and can be both national and international in countries connected by road networks. Road freight transport is typically divided between long- and short-haul, which influences the choice of vehicle: Vans are more prevalent in urban areas and across short distances, while medium and heavy trucks, due to their size, are used for long-haul trips.Find more key insights for the road freight transport volume in countries like Italy, Finland, and Croatia.

Revenue is expected to creep upwards at a compound annual rate of 0.1% over the five years through 2024-25 to £39.3 billion. The freight road transport industry operates the most extensive transport network of all freight modes, providing much-needed flexibility and the convenience of door-to-door haulage. The performance of the road haulage industry is influenced by demand from key downstream markets. Therefore, unprecedented global disruptions, like economic downturns, which affect production and consumption levels, have a direct impact on the revenue prospects of freight road transport companies. The surge in e-commerce during the pandemic gave the industry a crucial impetus, helping it recover from pandemic-related lows. The road haulage industry experienced a surge in demand as the economy reopened, however, freight volumes remained somewhat subdued in 2022-23 and 2023-24. This was due to stagnant UK economic growth and rampant inflation, caused by global supply chain disruptions, which limited demand from key markets like manufacturing and construction. A severe shortage of qualified drivers and record-high fuel prices have weighed on the average industry profit margin. Although freight road transport operators have adopted cost-cutting strategies such as fuel hedging and increased efforts to recruit and retain workers, they remain vulnerable to volatile conditions. Despite subsiding inflation in 2024-25, the industry continues to face challenges related to heightened costs due to ongoing global supply issues, resulting in road haulage companies being forced to cut operations or restructure. Despite ongoing operational constraints, freight road transport operators are actively increasing their investments to enhance operational efficiency during these uncertain economic times. They are specifically accelerating the transition to low-carbon fleets and boosting investments in automation. In 2024-25 revenue is forecast to increase by 2%. Revenue is forecast to rise at a compound annual rate of 1.7% over the five years through 2029-30 to reach £42.7 billion. As economic conditions improve, freight volumes are expected to increase due to rising consumer and business confidence. Brexit-related complexities and labour shortages will persist, but government initiatives like temporary visa schemes and apprenticeship grants will aim to bridge these gaps. The UK's commitment to net-zero emissions is set to transform the industry significantly. With significant investments in fuel-efficient vehicles and electric vehicle infrastructure, road haulage companies are gearing up for a cleaner, more efficient future.

This statistic shows the revenue of the industry “freight transport by road“ in the United Kingdom from 2012 to 2019, with a forecast to 2025. It is projected that the revenue of freight transport by road in the United Kingdom will amount to approximately ***** billion U.S. Dollars by 2025.

The United Kingdom road freight transport market size was valued at USD 69.23 Billion in 2024. The market is further projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.90% between 2025 and 2034, reaching a value of USD 92.14 Billion by 2034.

The Europe Cross Border Road Freight Transport Market report segments the industry into End User Industry (Agriculture, Fishing, and Forestry, Construction, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Mining and Quarrying, Wholesale and Retail Trade, Others) and Country (France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Nordics, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom, Rest of Europe). The report provides five years of historical data and five-year forecasts.

The United Kingdom Freight and Logistics Market Report is Segmented by End User Industry (Agriculture, Fishing, and Forestry, Construction, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Mining and Quarrying, Wholesale and Retail Trade, and Others) and by Logistics Function (Courier, Express, and Parcel, Freight Forwarding, Freight Transport, Warehousing and Storage, and Other Services). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Market Size statistics on the Freight Road Transport industry in the UK

United Kingdom Freight And Logistics Market was valued at USD 90.7 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 168.9 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 8.08% from 2024 to 2031.

United Kingdom Freight And Logistics Market: Definition/ Overview

In the United Kingdom, freight and logistics refers to the process of moving goods and resources from one area to another using various modes of transportation such as road, rail, air, and sea. This system's applicability is critical in a variety of industries, including retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, and healthcare. It covers services such as warehousing, distribution, inventory management, and supply chain coordination to ensure that goods arrive on time and at the correct price. Logistics is critical to enabling trade, both domestically and globally, by allowing product transportation for businesses and consumers.

The industry includes the land transport of passengers by urban or suburban transport systems. This includes different modes of land transport, such as by bus, tramway, taxi, underground and elevated railways. Road freight transport is also included in the industry.

Over the five years through 2025, industry revenue is expected to inch up at a compound annual rate of 0.1% to €51.8 billion. European freight rail transportation has succumbed to intense competition over the past decade, with road freight accounting for a consistently greater proportion of inland freight volumes. Dependence on rail freight varies widely across Europe, with Russia being the most prominent user of rail freight transport. Western Europe uses their extensive railway network for passenger transport, whereas Central Europe and the Balkans rely more heavily on rail freight. Industry performance is significantly influenced by broader macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical relations. These factors dictate freight volume and trade dynamics, which, in turn, determine income opportunities for freight rail transport. The COVID-19 outbreak adversely impacted European freight volumes, with many European countries recording a drop in freight train departures over 2020. Freight volumes experienced a partial recovery in 2021, but fell again in 2022 due to global supply chain disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which strained trade activity and industry revenue. These disruptions also triggered rampant inflation and dampened business and consumer confidence, which further weakened demand from key markets like construction and industrial production in 2023, leading to a decline in rail freight volumes and impacting profitability. As inflation subsides and production levels rebound, rail freight volumes are beginning to recover. Additionally, EU rail policies focused on reducing carbon emissions and promoting a shift to intermodal freight rail transport are enhancing cross-border connectivity through rail infrastructure investments, thereby supporting industry growth. In 2025, industry revenue is forecast to increase by 0.4%. Over the five years through 2030, industry revenue is expected to swell at a compound annual rate of 4.2% to reach €63.7 billion. The ongoing Net Zero agenda will favour investment in rail transport infrastructure, with the EU aiming to achieve 30% of rail in European freight transport by 2030. New harmonised EU Standards will support cross-border rail, drive down the cost of freight transport and boost efficiency within the industry. However, there are obstacles to growth along the tracks, including the operational burden posed by a lack of uniform track width across the EU. Despite this, the EU's Fourth Railway Package and the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) initiative are driving investments aimed at enhancing rail network interoperability and cross-border connectivity. This is evident in efforts like those in Spain, which will support international rail freight transport movements in the coming years.

This statistic shows the revenue of the industry “freight transport by road and removal services“ in the United Kingdom by segment from 2012 to 2019, with a forecast to 2025. It is projected that the revenue of freight transport by road and removal services in the United Kingdom will amount to approximately ***** billion U.S. Dollars by 2025.

Number of Businesses statistics on the Freight Road Transport industry in the UK

The leading road hauliers in the United Kingdom (UK) have enjoyed a run of profitable years since 2008, achieving profit margins of between *** and **** percent during that time. The leading 100 road hauliers in the UK achieved a profit margin of *** percent during 2018.

Importance of road freight to the UK

Road freight is particularly important to transport in the United Kingdom. In 2017, transport volume in the road freight sector amounted to approximately ***** billion tonne-kilometres, significantly more than the ***** billion net tonne-kilometers moved by rail. This is in part due to the fact that the United Kingdom has one of the highest population densities in Europe. France, for example, has a population density of ****** people per square kilometer as of 2017, Spain had a density of **** people per square kilometer in the same year, and the Italian population density came in at ****** people per square kilometer.

Road freight to the EU

Transport of goods via road haulage is among the many areas the Brexit-watchers are likely to be observing keenly in the coming years. Although there has been a steady reduction in the amount of road freight transported to the EU-15 since the year 2000, the amount of freight transport since 2015 has increased slightly. **** million tonnes were transported to the EU-15 by UK goods vehicles in 2018, ******* tonnes more than the amount moved in 2015.

Employment statistics on the Freight Road Transport industry in the UK

The UK’s Freight Rail Transport industry has recently found itself at the intersection of two major forces: a growing need for low-carbon logistics and significant pressures from labour shortages and operating costs. Over the five years through 2025-26, companies have capitalised on heightened demand for sustainable freight, with large businesses and retailers shifting away from more emissive long-distance road haulage. Major players have invested in cleaner locomotives, biofuels and more efficient intermodal hubs, in response to stricter environmental targets and persistent disruptions in road transport (think driver shortages and rising HGV operating costs). The result has been a steady expansion in rail freight volumes, especially for retail goods and biomass, even as the traditional bulk haulage of coal has all but disappeared following the closure of the UK’s last coal-fired power plant in October 2024. Even amid this modal shift, though, profitability has faced headwinds. Labour shortages, an ageing workforce and elevated wage demands, exacerbated by industrial action and an ongoing skills gap, have taken a toll on profit. Inflation-driven fuel and energy costs, together with higher track access charges introduced with Network Rail’s Control Period 7, have further eroded returns. The industry’s heavy reliance on contract haulage leaves it exposed to swings in client activity and volatility in both industrial and consumer demand, though new contracts in green fuels and strategic investments in digital scheduling platforms have helped offset some of this uncertainty. Revenue is slated to swell at a compound annual rate of 1.2% over the five years through 2025-26 to £1.3 billion, including a 0.1% climb in 2025-26. Over the five years through 2030-31, revenue is expected to climb at a compound annual rate of 3.2% to £1.5 billion. Looking ahead, the industry’s outlook is closely linked business confidence, fuel prices, construction activity and the continued transition to sustainable supply chains. While greener policies should benefit rail companies, network electrification remains limited, constraining decarbonisation efforts to selected routes. Regulatory and customer pressure is likely to spur continued investment in both digital technologies and fleet upgrades as shippers demand cost transparency and emissions tracking. At the same time, reliance on a handful of major contracts, particularly in biomass, leaves some freight rail companies vulnerable to market shifts. Profit should stabilise but is likely to remain below the sector average as freight rail companies seek to balance operational investments with the realities of a tight labour market and rising input costs.

The European long-haul transport industry, encompassing both domestic and cross-border movements, is a substantial market exhibiting robust growth. Driven by the increasing demand for goods across diverse sectors like construction, manufacturing, and e-commerce, the industry is projected to maintain a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) exceeding 3% from 2025 to 2033. Key growth drivers include expanding e-commerce logistics, rising industrial production, and the growth of cross-border trade within the European Union. The segmentation reveals significant opportunities within various end-user industries, with construction, oil and gas, and manufacturing showing particularly strong demand for long-haul transport services. The dominance of major players like Deutsche Post DHL Group, Dachser, and Kuehne + Nagel underscores the industry's consolidation trend, while regional variations in market size reflect differing economic strengths and infrastructural capabilities across Europe. Germany, the United Kingdom, and France are likely to remain the largest national markets due to their robust economies and central geographic locations within the European transportation network. Challenges include fluctuating fuel prices, evolving environmental regulations (pushing towards sustainable transportation solutions), and potential driver shortages. The industry's future trajectory suggests continued expansion fueled by e-commerce growth and industrial activity, albeit with ongoing adaptation to address regulatory and operational hurdles. The competitive landscape is characterized by both large multinational logistics providers and smaller, regional specialists. The emergence of technological advancements, such as improved route optimization software and real-time tracking systems, is enhancing efficiency and transparency within the industry. However, maintaining profitability amidst increasing fuel costs and driver wage demands remains a significant concern. Investment in infrastructure, particularly in improving road networks and rail connectivity, will be crucial in further supporting the growth of the European long-haul transport industry and addressing potential bottlenecks. Finally, addressing the sustainability challenge through the adoption of electric and alternative fuel vehicles will be increasingly important for long-term competitiveness and meeting evolving environmental standards. Recent developments include: July 2023: Trucksters, a Spanish road freight operator which has disrupted the long-haul sector with the use of AI and big data, has closed a Series B round of €33 million. The new capital injection, backed up by new and existing investors, will be used to fulfil some of the company’s strategic objectives including electrifying its routes, potentially making Trucksters the first electric long-haul operator in Europe, March 2023: CEVA Logistics, ENGIE and SANEF—the ECTN Alliance envisions building and operating a network of truck terminals with low-carbon energy solutions to transport merchandise along Europe’s motorways. The disruptive system will be tailored to electric trucks’ limited range and charging requirements. Three major groups are joining forces to fight climate change and launch the European Clean Transport Network Alliance (ECTN Alliance), a concrete solution to decarbonize road freight transport.. Notable trends are: Shrinking Automotive Sector May Impact the Market Growth.

The China-Europe Rail Freight Transport Market Report is Segmented by Cargo Type (Containerized Intermodal, Non-Containerized, Liquid Bulk), by Service Type (Transportation, Services Allied To Transportation), and by Geography (Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Rest of Europe). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).