Appreciation for logistics workers

More than two thirds of the public believe that transport and delivery workers should be more appreciated, according to the results of a survey conducted by the UK Major Ports Group (UKMPG), and nearly half of respondents now think more about how goods are transported than they did pre-pandemic.

“Historically hidden or overlooked, workers driving trucks, unloading ships in ports or operating warehouses are now much better appreciated by the British public,” said Tim Morris, chief executive of UKMPG.

“More of the public have also woken up to the complex, sophisticated supply chains that deliver our just in time lives and businesses,” he added.

Nearly two thirds (65%) of respondents stated that their respect for HGV drivers had increased more or much more over the last six months, followed by perceptions of warehouse workers (54%) and port workers (50%), relative to teachers (46%) and police officers (39%).

Understanding how goods reach the consumer

Awareness of the supply chains and delivery systems these workers make happen has increased too with 48% agreeing or strongly agreeing with the statement ‘I think more about the process by which goods are transported and delivered to me than I did a few years ago’.

This is no doubt a result of disruption to these once smooth supply chains: nearly three quarters of respondents have experienced problems with stock availability and nearly half have had delayed online orders.

UKMPG hopes that these changing public attitudes help improve the situation. “We want to see the government build on this public appreciation and improve the connectivity infrastructure, the development rules and the support for green solutions that logistics needs to keep delivering for the UK,” said Tim Morris.