Microlise has published its latest report on the UK transport and logistics industry. The survey found that 90% of transport and logistics managers believe drivers feel safer than they did five years ago.

The study drew on responses from 250 UK transport and logistics professionals and examined changes in safety, sustainability, technology use and day-to-day fleet operations.

Safety featured strongly in the findings. More than half of respondents said technologies such as in-cab cameras had improved driver performance by up to 50%, while 83% said camera systems had helped prevent a serious accident involving one of their drivers.

The research also pointed to broader adoption of artificial intelligence in transport operations. More than eight in 10 managers said they now use AI tools to support fleet and supply chain work, and 88% said their organisations were well equipped to make greater use of the technology in future.

Sustainability shift

Environmental concerns have also risen up the agenda. Six in 10 respondents described environmental impact as a top priority for their organisation, compared with 36% in Microlise’s previous report.

The shift suggests operators are placing greater weight on emissions and broader sustainability targets even as they deal with cost pressures and regulatory demands. Those priorities now appear to sit alongside safety and efficiency rather than behind them.

The survey also found signs that transport management systems are delivering measurable financial benefits for some operators. Almost 60% of respondents reported savings of up to £100,000 from using such systems.

Even so, manual processes remain a drag on productivity. Managers said they spend an average of 2.3 hours a day manually processing proof of delivery documentation, up from 1.7 hours the previous year.

The average daily cost linked to that manual proof of delivery work rose to £172.40, underlining how paper-based or fragmented processes continue to add labour costs in a sector already under pressure to improve margins.

Workforce pressure

The report also highlighted strain in the labour market. More than half of respondents said that although they enjoy working in transport and logistics, they would consider moving into a different career within the next five years.

That adds to a broader challenge for employers trying to recruit and retain staff in driving, planning and operational roles. It also suggests investment in technology is happening alongside concerns about retention and job satisfaction, rather than replacing them.

Microlise said operators are increasingly seeking more automation, AI, real-time visibility and better data flows in the systems they use to run fleets. It is focusing on connecting information across operations so transport managers can gain a clearer view of performance.

According to the report material, its approach to AI is to build those tools into everyday software rather than offer them as standalone products. Microlise also pointed to its analytics platform as part of that effort to bring together data on safety, compliance, efficiency, sustainability and profitability.

More broadly, the findings paint a picture of an industry still trying to modernise core processes while meeting new expectations from customers, regulators and internal management teams. The increase in time spent on proof of delivery work suggests some parts of transport operations remain stubbornly manual even as AI adoption rises.

At the same time, the safety data may help explain why managers continue to support spending on monitoring and fleet technology. If operators believe cameras and related systems are reducing serious incidents and improving driver behaviour, that creates a practical case for further adoption.

One notable feature of the findings is the extent to which safety and sustainability now appear to be treated as business issues rather than side considerations. The sector’s adoption of digital tools is no longer framed only around route efficiency or cost control, but also around risk management, environmental impact and workforce support.

Commenting on the findings, Nadeem Raza, Chief Executive Officer of Microlise, said: “Transport and logistics operators are working in an increasingly demanding environment, balancing customer expectations, regulatory requirements, sustainability goals and commercial pressures.

“We wanted to examine what had changed in the 12 months since the publication of our first industry report, as well as predict what might happen in the coming year. Our latest report provides valuable insight into how priorities are evolving across the sector and where organisations are seeing the greatest opportunities to improve performance.

“The findings demonstrate the positive impact technology is having across safety, sustainability and operational efficiency, while also highlighting areas where challenges remain and further progress can be made.

“As the pace of change continues to accelerate, understanding these trends will be critical in helping operators make informed decisions, improve resilience and build future-ready businesses.”