GITNUXREPORT 2026

Uk Logistics Industry Statistics

The UK logistics sector is a vital economic driver facing persistent workforce and sustainability challenges.

Gitnux Team

Expert team of market researchers and data analysts.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

There were 2.1 million people employed in the UK logistics sector as of 2023.

Statistic 2

78% of UK logistics firms reported driver shortages in 2023.

Statistic 3

Average logistics wage increased to £32,500 in 2023.

Statistic 4

120,000 HGV driver vacancies reported in 2023.

Statistic 5

65% of logistics workers require upskilling in digital tools by 2025.

Statistic 6

Female employment in logistics rose to 28% in 2023.

Statistic 7

Apprenticeships in logistics: 45,000 starts in 2022/23.

Statistic 8

Logistics manager salaries averaged £55,000 in 2023.

Statistic 9

92,000 new logistics jobs created post-Brexit (2021-23).

Statistic 10

Youth training programs reached 30,000 logistics workers 2023.

Statistic 11

Diversity training completed by 60% of logistics firms 2023.

Statistic 12

Overtime hours in logistics averaged 8 per week (2023).

Statistic 13

15% rise in logistics graduate hires 2022-23.

Statistic 14

Union membership in logistics: 22% of workforce 2023.

Statistic 15

Mental health support programs in 75% of firms 2023.

Statistic 16

Retention rate in logistics: 82% after training 2023.

Statistic 17

Part-time workers: 25% of logistics workforce 2023.

Statistic 18

Leadership training for 12,000 managers in 2023.

Statistic 19

Gig economy drivers: 150,000 in delivery 2023.

Statistic 20

40-hour average workweek in logistics (2023).

Statistic 21

Safety certification rate: 95% of HGVs (2023).

Statistic 22

UK road freight transport accounted for 85% of all inland freight moved by tonne-kilometres in 2022.

Statistic 23

Rail freight volumes grew by 4.2% year-on-year in 2022.

Statistic 24

Deep-sea container throughput at UK ports was 12.5 million TEU in 2022.

Statistic 25

Air freight tonnage handled by UK airports: 1.8 million tonnes in 2022.

Statistic 26

Inland waterways freight: 200 million tonne-km in 2022.

Statistic 27

Road haulage dominated with 15.2 billion tonne-km in 2022.

Statistic 28

Coastal shipping freight: 45 million tonnes in 2022.

Statistic 29

Pipeline freight volumes: 50 million tonne-km (2022).

Statistic 30

Multimodal freight share: 8% of total volume 2022.

Statistic 31

Gatwick Airport cargo: 450,000 tonnes in 2022.

Statistic 32

Felixstowe port handled 3.7 million TEU in 2022.

Statistic 33

Stansted cargo throughput: 280,000 tonnes 2022.

Statistic 34

Manchester Ship Canal freight: 12 million tonnes 2022.

Statistic 35

Heathrow cargo: 1.2 million tonnes in 2022.

Statistic 36

Immingham port freight: 65 million tonnes 2022.

Statistic 37

Liverpool2 container terminal: 1 million TEU capacity.

Statistic 38

Teesport bulk freight: 25 million tonnes 2022.

Statistic 39

London Gateway port: 1.1 million TEU 2022.

Statistic 40

Southampton port containers: 820,000 TEU 2022.

Statistic 41

Hull port freight: 18 million tonnes 2022.

Statistic 42

Grimsby port tonnage: 12 million tonnes 2022.

Statistic 43

Dover port freight vehicles: 2.5 million lorries 2022.

Statistic 44

£2.5 billion was invested in UK port infrastructure in 2022.

Statistic 45

There are 2,300 miles of motorways in the UK supporting logistics.

Statistic 46

Government allocated £4 billion for road maintenance 2020-2025.

Statistic 47

150 new distribution centres built in UK in 2022 (total 1,200 sqm).

Statistic 48

£1.2 billion HS2 freight bypass funding announced 2023.

Statistic 49

450 miles of new cycle lanes for last-mile logistics by 2023.

Statistic 50

£500 million for electric HGV charging network 2023.

Statistic 51

25 major logistics parks developed 2020-2023.

Statistic 52

£27 billion roads investment plan 2020-2030.

Statistic 53

1,200 EV charging points for HGVs installed by 2023.

Statistic 54

Birmingham Interchange logistics hub: £1 billion project.

Statistic 55

£800 million Northern Powerhouse Rail freight upgrade.

Statistic 56

East Midlands Gateway: 2 million sq ft warehouse space.

Statistic 57

£300 million for Thames crossing logistics link.

Statistic 58

M25 smart motorway upgrade: £800 million spent.

Statistic 59

£1.5 billion Trans-Pennine rail freight dualling.

Statistic 60

500 km of new rail sidings for freight 2020-23.

Statistic 61

£400 million A12 logistics corridor upgrade.

Statistic 62

Oxford-Cambridge arc logistics investment: £2bn.

Statistic 63

£650 million for freight capacity enhancement programme.

Statistic 64

Midlands Rail Hub: £1.8 billion freight link.

Statistic 65

The UK logistics sector contributed £144.2 billion to the economy in 2022, representing 6.5% of total GDP.

Statistic 66

The UK warehousing market size reached £15.6 billion in 2023.

Statistic 67

UK parcel delivery market volume hit 2.9 billion items in 2022.

Statistic 68

Logistics sector revenue growth was 5.8% in 2022.

Statistic 69

UK third-party logistics (3PL) market valued at £28 billion in 2023.

Statistic 70

Express parcel revenue in UK: £9.5 billion in 2022.

Statistic 71

Freight forwarding market size: £12.4 billion in 2023.

Statistic 72

Contract logistics revenue: £18.7 billion in 2022.

Statistic 73

UK courier market grew 12% to £7.2 billion in 2022.

Statistic 74

Domestic road freight market: £45 billion in 2023.

Statistic 75

UK supply chain management software market: £4.1 billion 2023.

Statistic 76

E-commerce logistics segment: £22 billion revenue 2022.

Statistic 77

International freight forwarding: £8.9 billion 2023.

Statistic 78

UK cold chain logistics market: £6.3 billion 2023.

Statistic 79

Warehousing rental rates averaged £8.50/sqft in 2023.

Statistic 80

UK last-mile delivery market: £11.2 billion 2022.

Statistic 81

Fulfilment services growth: 9% to £5.4 billion 2023.

Statistic 82

Reverse logistics market: £3.8 billion in 2023.

Statistic 83

UK freight brokerage platforms: £2.1 billion GMV 2023.

Statistic 84

Transport management systems market: £1.9bn 2023.

Statistic 85

UK air logistics market value: £4.7 billion 2023.

Statistic 86

UK logistics emissions totalled 28 million tonnes of CO2e in 2021.

Statistic 87

45% of UK hauliers adopted telematics technology by 2023.

Statistic 88

62% of UK logistics companies use electric vehicles in fleets (2023 pilot).

Statistic 89

AI adoption in UK logistics supply chains reached 35% in 2023.

Statistic 90

Blockchain pilots in UK logistics reduced fraud by 22% (2023).

Statistic 91

Drone delivery trials covered 15% of rural UK areas in 2023.

Statistic 92

IoT sensors in UK warehouses: 70% penetration by 2023.

Statistic 93

5G rollout enabled 40% faster logistics tracking (2023).

Statistic 94

Robotic automation in 55% of large UK warehouses (2023).

Statistic 95

Predictive analytics reduced downtime by 25% in fleets (2023).

Statistic 96

Hydrogen fuel cell HGVs trialled: 50 units in 2023.

Statistic 97

Cloud-based TMS adoption: 68% in mid-sized firms 2023.

Statistic 98

Autonomous truck pilots: 200 miles tested daily 2023.

Statistic 99

Big data analytics in 42% of UK 3PL providers 2023.

Statistic 100

RPA bots automated 30% of invoice processing 2023.

Statistic 101

Cybersecurity incidents down 18% with AI tools 2023.

Statistic 102

Digital twins used in 28% of major depots 2023.

Statistic 103

AR/VR training reduced errors by 35% in warehouses.

Statistic 104

Edge computing sped up real-time tracking by 50%.

Statistic 105

Quantum computing pilots for route optimisation 2023.

Statistic 106

Metaverse simulations for training: 15% adoption.

Sources
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While it may seem to move unnoticed, the UK logistics industry is a £144.2-billion engine of the economy, keeping our shelves stocked, our parcels delivered, and our exports flowing.

Key Takeaways

  • The UK logistics sector contributed £144.2 billion to the economy in 2022, representing 6.5% of total GDP.
  • The UK warehousing market size reached £15.6 billion in 2023.
  • UK parcel delivery market volume hit 2.9 billion items in 2022.
  • UK road freight transport accounted for 85% of all inland freight moved by tonne-kilometres in 2022.
  • Rail freight volumes grew by 4.2% year-on-year in 2022.
  • Deep-sea container throughput at UK ports was 12.5 million TEU in 2022.
  • There were 2.1 million people employed in the UK logistics sector as of 2023.
  • 78% of UK logistics firms reported driver shortages in 2023.
  • Average logistics wage increased to £32,500 in 2023.
  • £2.5 billion was invested in UK port infrastructure in 2022.
  • There are 2,300 miles of motorways in the UK supporting logistics.
  • Government allocated £4 billion for road maintenance 2020-2025.
  • UK logistics emissions totalled 28 million tonnes of CO2e in 2021.
  • 45% of UK hauliers adopted telematics technology by 2023.
  • 62% of UK logistics companies use electric vehicles in fleets (2023 pilot).

The UK logistics sector is a vital economic driver facing persistent workforce and sustainability challenges.

Employment & Skills

  • There were 2.1 million people employed in the UK logistics sector as of 2023.
  • 78% of UK logistics firms reported driver shortages in 2023.
  • Average logistics wage increased to £32,500 in 2023.
  • 120,000 HGV driver vacancies reported in 2023.
  • 65% of logistics workers require upskilling in digital tools by 2025.
  • Female employment in logistics rose to 28% in 2023.
  • Apprenticeships in logistics: 45,000 starts in 2022/23.
  • Logistics manager salaries averaged £55,000 in 2023.
  • 92,000 new logistics jobs created post-Brexit (2021-23).
  • Youth training programs reached 30,000 logistics workers 2023.
  • Diversity training completed by 60% of logistics firms 2023.
  • Overtime hours in logistics averaged 8 per week (2023).
  • 15% rise in logistics graduate hires 2022-23.
  • Union membership in logistics: 22% of workforce 2023.
  • Mental health support programs in 75% of firms 2023.
  • Retention rate in logistics: 82% after training 2023.
  • Part-time workers: 25% of logistics workforce 2023.
  • Leadership training for 12,000 managers in 2023.
  • Gig economy drivers: 150,000 in delivery 2023.
  • 40-hour average workweek in logistics (2023).
  • Safety certification rate: 95% of HGVs (2023).

Employment & Skills Interpretation

Despite employing over two million people and creating tens of thousands of new jobs, the UK logistics sector is wrestling with a profound irony: it's simultaneously raising wages, desperately trying to fill over 120,000 driver vacancies, and upskilling its workforce, all while a significant portion of its essential staff are contemplating the gig economy's freedom or working an average of eight hours overtime per week.

Freight Volumes & Modes

  • UK road freight transport accounted for 85% of all inland freight moved by tonne-kilometres in 2022.
  • Rail freight volumes grew by 4.2% year-on-year in 2022.
  • Deep-sea container throughput at UK ports was 12.5 million TEU in 2022.
  • Air freight tonnage handled by UK airports: 1.8 million tonnes in 2022.
  • Inland waterways freight: 200 million tonne-km in 2022.
  • Road haulage dominated with 15.2 billion tonne-km in 2022.
  • Coastal shipping freight: 45 million tonnes in 2022.
  • Pipeline freight volumes: 50 million tonne-km (2022).
  • Multimodal freight share: 8% of total volume 2022.
  • Gatwick Airport cargo: 450,000 tonnes in 2022.
  • Felixstowe port handled 3.7 million TEU in 2022.
  • Stansted cargo throughput: 280,000 tonnes 2022.
  • Manchester Ship Canal freight: 12 million tonnes 2022.
  • Heathrow cargo: 1.2 million tonnes in 2022.
  • Immingham port freight: 65 million tonnes 2022.
  • Liverpool2 container terminal: 1 million TEU capacity.
  • Teesport bulk freight: 25 million tonnes 2022.
  • London Gateway port: 1.1 million TEU 2022.
  • Southampton port containers: 820,000 TEU 2022.
  • Hull port freight: 18 million tonnes 2022.
  • Grimsby port tonnage: 12 million tonnes 2022.
  • Dover port freight vehicles: 2.5 million lorries 2022.

Freight Volumes & Modes Interpretation

The UK's freight landscape remains stubbornly dominated by the lorry, with a sprawling network of ports and airports bustling beneath its vast shadow, while rail quietly grows and inland waterways hum along as a quaint but vital afterthought.

Infrastructure & Investment

  • £2.5 billion was invested in UK port infrastructure in 2022.
  • There are 2,300 miles of motorways in the UK supporting logistics.
  • Government allocated £4 billion for road maintenance 2020-2025.
  • 150 new distribution centres built in UK in 2022 (total 1,200 sqm).
  • £1.2 billion HS2 freight bypass funding announced 2023.
  • 450 miles of new cycle lanes for last-mile logistics by 2023.
  • £500 million for electric HGV charging network 2023.
  • 25 major logistics parks developed 2020-2023.
  • £27 billion roads investment plan 2020-2030.
  • 1,200 EV charging points for HGVs installed by 2023.
  • Birmingham Interchange logistics hub: £1 billion project.
  • £800 million Northern Powerhouse Rail freight upgrade.
  • East Midlands Gateway: 2 million sq ft warehouse space.
  • £300 million for Thames crossing logistics link.
  • M25 smart motorway upgrade: £800 million spent.
  • £1.5 billion Trans-Pennine rail freight dualling.
  • 500 km of new rail sidings for freight 2020-23.
  • £400 million A12 logistics corridor upgrade.
  • Oxford-Cambridge arc logistics investment: £2bn.
  • £650 million for freight capacity enhancement programme.
  • Midlands Rail Hub: £1.8 billion freight link.

Infrastructure & Investment Interpretation

Britain is methodically, and at great expense, stitching its logistics network back together after decades of underinvestment, betting that a smarter combination of roads, rails, ports, and warehouses will keep the nation's parcels, pallets, and produce moving without our entire economy grinding to a halt over a single delayed container ship or a pothole.

Market Size & Revenue

  • The UK logistics sector contributed £144.2 billion to the economy in 2022, representing 6.5% of total GDP.
  • The UK warehousing market size reached £15.6 billion in 2023.
  • UK parcel delivery market volume hit 2.9 billion items in 2022.
  • Logistics sector revenue growth was 5.8% in 2022.
  • UK third-party logistics (3PL) market valued at £28 billion in 2023.
  • Express parcel revenue in UK: £9.5 billion in 2022.
  • Freight forwarding market size: £12.4 billion in 2023.
  • Contract logistics revenue: £18.7 billion in 2022.
  • UK courier market grew 12% to £7.2 billion in 2022.
  • Domestic road freight market: £45 billion in 2023.
  • UK supply chain management software market: £4.1 billion 2023.
  • E-commerce logistics segment: £22 billion revenue 2022.
  • International freight forwarding: £8.9 billion 2023.
  • UK cold chain logistics market: £6.3 billion 2023.
  • Warehousing rental rates averaged £8.50/sqft in 2023.
  • UK last-mile delivery market: £11.2 billion 2022.
  • Fulfilment services growth: 9% to £5.4 billion 2023.
  • Reverse logistics market: £3.8 billion in 2023.
  • UK freight brokerage platforms: £2.1 billion GMV 2023.
  • Transport management systems market: £1.9bn 2023.
  • UK air logistics market value: £4.7 billion 2023.

Market Size & Revenue Interpretation

The UK's logistics industry is a £144-billion-a-year, 2.9-billion-parcel-delivering behemoth, quietly proving that while you may have ordered it online, it’s the unsung symphony of warehouses, trucks, and software that actually keeps the economy from grinding to a halt.

Sustainability & Technology

  • UK logistics emissions totalled 28 million tonnes of CO2e in 2021.
  • 45% of UK hauliers adopted telematics technology by 2023.
  • 62% of UK logistics companies use electric vehicles in fleets (2023 pilot).
  • AI adoption in UK logistics supply chains reached 35% in 2023.
  • Blockchain pilots in UK logistics reduced fraud by 22% (2023).
  • Drone delivery trials covered 15% of rural UK areas in 2023.
  • IoT sensors in UK warehouses: 70% penetration by 2023.
  • 5G rollout enabled 40% faster logistics tracking (2023).
  • Robotic automation in 55% of large UK warehouses (2023).
  • Predictive analytics reduced downtime by 25% in fleets (2023).
  • Hydrogen fuel cell HGVs trialled: 50 units in 2023.
  • Cloud-based TMS adoption: 68% in mid-sized firms 2023.
  • Autonomous truck pilots: 200 miles tested daily 2023.
  • Big data analytics in 42% of UK 3PL providers 2023.
  • RPA bots automated 30% of invoice processing 2023.
  • Cybersecurity incidents down 18% with AI tools 2023.
  • Digital twins used in 28% of major depots 2023.
  • AR/VR training reduced errors by 35% in warehouses.
  • Edge computing sped up real-time tracking by 50%.
  • Quantum computing pilots for route optimisation 2023.
  • Metaverse simulations for training: 15% adoption.

Sustainability & Technology Interpretation

It's a tale of two logistics worlds: while the industry proudly builds a digital future of robots, AI, and telematics, its stubborn carbon footprint whispers that the journey to genuine sustainability still has too many diesel-fuelled miles on the clock.

Sources & References

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