UK van drivers are overworked and overwhelmed

One quarter of the UK’s van drivers (24%) have faced depression or mental health issues caused by work in the past year, according to a study by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.¹  

A poor work-life balance and working too many hours (32% and 28% respectively) were cited as some of the top causes of worry and stress leading to mental health issues.¹

More than half (51%) of the 1,000 UK van drivers surveyed reported feeling overwhelmed by work every month.¹ Respondents attributed this to a sharp increase in working hours as the majority (60%) of UK van drivers have seen their working hours increase, with as many as 40% working 10 hours or more per day.¹ What’s more, 1 in 10 respondents admitted to working 13 hours or more per day – almost double the number working such long hours the year before.^1,2

To mark International Stress Awareness Week, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is urging van drivers to prioritise their mental health, by raising awareness of the significant impact that working long hours can bring.

In the UK, the legal limit for work is 48 hours per week on average – unless workers sign an agreement to opt out of this limit – pointing to the fact that many van drivers are working significantly more hours than the legal weekly limit allows. More information on working hours can be found here.

Eve Tyers, Head of Marketing & Communications at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “These findings clearly show the alarming number of van drivers in the UK that are feeling overworked and overwhelmed, as well as the impact this is having on their mental health. We’re therefore encouraging van drivers to prioritise their wellbeing, making sure to take the breaks they need to remain in good physical and mental shape day-to-day.”

Notes
¹ Results are taken from a OnePoll survey of 1,000 UK van drivers, conducted in December 2023, covering 2023 calendar year, commissioned by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
² Results are taken from a OnePoll survey of 1,000 UK van drivers, conducted in February 2023, covering 2022 calendar year, commissioned by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.