As Commercial Vehicle Show Closes Public Opinion of Everyday Logistics Revealed

UK – The extent to which the British public believes it relies on commercial vehicles was revealed in a recent study by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) during the recent CV Show. Despite the fact that many people remain blissfully unaware of the impact the logistics sector has on everyday lives it seems that when questioned about specific topics, the penny drops with an audible clang.

Responding to a YouGov survey commissioned by the trade body, almost nine in 10 people (88%) said they believed their life would be negatively impacted if their use of at least one CV-driven service was restricted. Unfortunately, despite the immediate recognition for services such as rubbish collection, bus services and online deliveries, many people remain ignorant of the essential nature of the supply chain which ensures shelves are stocked and essentials such as pharmaceutical goods are always available.

As well as delivering essential services, Britain’s commercial vehicle fleet is increasingly serving growing demand for online purchasing. The UK is now the EU’s biggest online retail sector, with consumers here buying some £67.3 billion worth of goods and services online in 2017, and online sales are forecast to have made up 17.6% of all retail sales last year. Commercial vehicles transport some 1.9 billion tonnes of goods across the UK every year, including medicines, clothing and groceries.

79% of those responding said they recognised that they benefit from CVs at least once a week, yet seeing road transport literally only when it arrived on their doorsteps in the form of a taxi or a dustcart.

The Commercial Vehicle (CV) Show spread across three Halls at Birmingham’s NEC this year and seemed as busy as ever, with a broad spectrum of both exhibitors and visitors. Planning is already underway for the 2019 event which will be held between April 30 and May 2. With Multimodal possibly being switched next year to a June date there is less likely to be a case of ‘event fatigue’ a knock on effect of which may have cut visitor numbers to the latter show which opened just 3 working days after the CV show closed.