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UK HGV activity to June 2026: tonnes down, haul length up
GB-registered heavy goods vehicles lifted 1.55 billion tonnes of goods within the UK in the 12 months to June 2026, 2% less than in the previous 12 months, according to the Department for Transport (DfT). Tonne-kilometres held broadly steady because the average haul got longer, and the share of distance driven empty fell in the latest quarter.
GigFreight Editorial Team · Markets desk
· 3 min read
GigFreight News — published by Hopline Transfers Inc. (trading as GigFreight)
The 12-month picture
The DfT's quarterly domestic road freight release, updated on 4 November 2026, compares the 12 months to June 2026 with the 12 months to June 2025:
| Measure | 12 months to June 2025 | 12 months to June 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goods lifted | 1.58 billion tonnes | 1.55 billion tonnes | −2% |
| Goods moved | 165.0 billion tonne-km | 164.6 billion tonne-km | broadly unchanged |
| Vehicle distance | 19.2 billion km | 18.5 billion km | −4% |
| Average length of haul | 104.5 km | 106.3 km | about +2% |
Fewer tonnes and fewer vehicle kilometres, with tonne-kilometres almost unchanged, means each tonne travelled further on average.
The latest quarter
In April to June 2026, GB-registered HGVs lifted 398 million tonnes. That was 3% more than in January to March 2026 (387 million tonnes) and 2% less than in April to June 2025 (408 million tonnes).
Over the first half of 2026 as a whole, 784 million tonnes were lifted, 2% more than the 768 million tonnes in the first half of 2025. For the calendar year 2025, the total was 1.53 billion tonnes, down 3% on 2024.
Empty running
Over the 12 months to June 2026, HGVs ran empty for 5,321 million kilometres, 29% of total vehicle distance.
The latest quarter was lower. In April to June 2026, empty running was 1,193 million kilometres, or 27% of 4,499 million kilometres driven, compared with 32% in the same quarter of 2025. The DfT notes that empty running averaged 27% over the latest three quarters, compared with 30% over the preceding four years.
For hauliers, every point off the empty share is distance that earns. The figures do not explain the fall; it may reflect better load matching, a different mix of work, or both.
Driver vacancies and pay
The same release reports on HGV driver recruitment:
- 28% of HGV businesses reported vacancies in April to June 2026 (629 of 2,218 businesses), up from 25% in January to March 2026 and 26% a year earlier.
- 25% reported raising wages in the preceding three months, up from 11% in January to March 2026.
What the figures cover
The survey covers GB-registered HGVs working within the UK. It excludes foreign-registered HGVs, vehicles of 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight or less, and GB-registered HGVs while they work outside the UK. Because the survey moved from paper to online in 2021, the DfT advises against comparing current results with older paper-based data.
International work by GB-registered HGVs is published separately. The DfT says its 2025 international road freight publication has been paused until later in 2026 while it develops the methodology, so there is no 2025 international update yet.
What it means for UK carriers and brokers
The combination of fewer tonnes but longer hauls suggests a market where the remaining work involves more distance per job. A lower empty share in the latest quarter is good news for utilisation, while a rising share of firms reporting driver vacancies and pay rises points to continued pressure on labour costs.
Carriers looking for work across the Channel can find background in the UK section and the guide to finding truck loads in Europe. This article reports published statistics and does not forecast the next quarter.