News

The number of licensed operators in the UK fell to 100,000 in 2007 from 102,000 in 2005 and 115,000 in 1997 according to the latest DfT Road Freight Statistics report. While large operators accounted for just 0.3% of the total, those 275 operators ran 14% of the total vehicle parc.

The number of licensed vehicles in 2007 remained unchanged from  2006 at 446,300, 73% of which were rigids. However, the number of trucks over 3.5 tonnes registered for the first time in 2007 fell to its lowest level since 1997 at 41,000, down from 49,000 in 2006.

James Hookham, policy director at the Freight Transport Association, explains the fall: "There has been a period of consolidation in the industry since 1997. There have been big casualties at the top. "The entry standards for the industry have also been going up, with new exams, such as the CPC. It is more expensive to run trucks, and during that time, the UK has seen the highest rates of fuel duty in Europe."

Breakdown of licensed operators in 2007:

• 80,800 operators run between 1 and 10 vehicles - a total of 174,700 trucks
• 3,200 operators run 11 to 20 vehicles - 48,200 trucks
• 1,900 operators run 21 to 50 vehicles - 59,500 trucks
• 500 operators run 51 to 100 vehicles - 32,900 trucks
• 300 operators run 101 to 500 vehicles - 46,000 trucks
• 100 operators run more than 501 vehicles - 6,900 trucks