Almost half of all respondents (46%) said lack of drivers and other skilled workers was the biggest barrier to success – up by more than a third on the previous year’s survey.
Transport costs remained the second biggest challenge (13%), with congestion (7%), lack of investment (7%), and urban transport restriction (6%) also identified as notable issues.
Planning pressures were cited, with the need to compare planned routes against actual performance citing by almost half of respondents (46%) as well as the demand for more accurate time windows (45%).
Customers want faster and more regular deliveries, said those polled, with 86% saying customer expectations had increased in the past 12 months.
The survey reveals a mixed bag on vehicle innovation: almost 20% have a strategy for electric or hybrid vehicles, with a further 26% expecting to adopt such a strategy within two years. However, more than half of those asked have no immediate investment plans in place.
When it comes to attracting young talent, more than one third felt better education and training are needed, with one in four believing improvements in pay and working conditions would help. Respondents were also concerned about the sector’s image, saying it needs to be promoted as a modern, innovative industry that is embracing the latest technology.
“The findings of our customer survey highlight the importance of using routing and scheduling software to help manage all available drivers and vehicles at an individual resource level,” says William Salter, Paragon’s managing director.
“This means that logistics operations can mitigate the impact of driver and skills shortages, as well as meet the increasing expectations of customers.”