Workforce crisis warning from RHA and Women in Transport
The RHA (Road Haulage Association) and Women in Transport (WiT) have called for urgent action to tackle what they say is a growing generational challenge in the UK transport and logistics sector.
The organisations are urging the transport industry to better cater for generational expectations in the workplace in the face of long-term recruitment and retention challenges.
A joint report, Navigating Generational Change: Building a Future-Ready Transport Workforce, has been published by the associations, revealing that the average age of transport workers is now 46 – and that almost two in five are expected to retire within 10-15 years.
Meanwhile, only two per cent of HGV drivers are under 25, at a time when industry is said to require 60,000 more per year for the next five years in order to meet demand and drive growth.
The bodies released the report at the RHA’s Logistics Leaders Forum in London this week.
It also warns that flexible working access in frontline roles is just 14 per cent, despite younger generations ranking flexibility and wellbeing as among their top priorities.
The report identifies 11 actions which it said would help employers to build a future-ready, multigenerational workforce.
- Map workforce demographics and retirement risk
- Audit and update policies for real-world usability
- Train line managers in generational leadership
- Introduce structured intergenerational mentoring
- Elevate early-career and underrepresented voices
- Modernise learning and development to suit all generations
- Make health and life-stage inclusion standard
- Build belonging across age groups
- Embed generational inclusion into workforce strategy and KPIs
- Share generational data across the sector
- Prepare now for Gen Alpha
Without immediate action, the associations warn, the sector risks significant skills gaps and reduced resilience, as well as long-term disruption to UK transport operations.
They call on businesses in the sector to share the report with leadership and HR teams and to partner with WiT and the RHA to pilot intergenerational initiatives.
Richard Smith, managing director of the RHA, said: “The road transport industry is the backbone of the UK economy. But like every sector, it faces a changing world. By understanding how different generations view work, skills, and career progression, we can create strategies that attract, retain, and develop talent across every age group.”
Jo Field, chair of Women in Transport, added: “Age is still one of the most overlooked yet consequential aspects of workplace diversity. If we fail to bridge generational perspectives, we risk losing the talent that makes our sector innovative and resilient. The organisations that succeed will be those that make the most of every generation’s strengths.”
