Van drivers deliver the goods this Xmas

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According to a new report from the EU statistics agency Eurostat, Britons are the biggest internet shoppers in Europe. Apparently, more than four out of five adults have bought items from the internet, compared to just over half of adults across the EU as a whole; and it’s vans that are delivering the majority of goods to buyers’ front doors. Van drivers are becoming the face of shopping as they’re the sole visible person in the online transaction.

According to a recent Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) Van Excellence report, the home-delivery market is driven by the £52bn e-commerce market; with the annual average weekly spend in 2014 of £719m; an increase of 12 per cent compared with the previous 12 months. In five years the amount spent online in the UK has more than doubled, with the largest growth area being textiles, clothing and footwear where spending rose by 17 per cent.

“While Santa has been able to deliver Christmas in one night previously, with the massive increase in online shoppers it’s clear he’s in need of a helping-hand from the van drivers of Britain this year,” said Mark Cartwright, the FTA’s head of vans. “We live in the world’s leading e-commerce country and the need for home deliveries to be made wherever and whenever has never been higher. Vans play an essential part in delivering the goods particularly now - the busiest time of the year when consumer demand is at its peak.

“Most of the services essential to modern life are delivered by a van, but despite this the role that that these 3.6 million vehicles and their drivers play in the UK play is often overlooked.

“Millions of shoppers are taking the opportunity to buy online, in the expectation that their goods will be delivered on time as promised; as if by magic. The reality is that this is a highly complex and sophisticated process of supply chain management and operation, which results in items being delivered to the right place, at the right time. The logistics industry should be recognised and congratulated for its work not only during the festive season, but throughout the year.”

Source: http://www.vansa2z.com/Van-drivers-deliver-the-goods-this-Xmas