At HGVC, we create regular articles like this one to highlight events in the UK HGV sector and much has already transpired in 2023. Today, we bring you news of a call from the Department of Transport (DfT) for drivers and operators to help design the UK’s zero-emission HGV infrastructure via the HGV Infrastructure survey.

The survey has been introduced to determine exactly what kind of infrastructure network will be needed in the United Kingdom in order to fuel zero-emission HGVs.

The Government’s 2030 & 2040 Commitments

In November of 2021, the UK government committed to phasing out petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, as well as confirming that all new heavy goods vehicles would be zero-emission by 2040. Also, as part of this world-leading pledge, heavy goods vehicles weighing 26 tonnes and under will be sunsetted by 2035.

However, in order for this commitment to come to pass, adequate facilities need to be provided for its real-world implementation. This means having a sufficient charging system and understanding how HGV drivers work on a daily basis, how and when rests are taken, and the routes driven most often.

Speeding Up the Industry Rollout

The survey is targeted specifically at HGV drivers and operators, and the findings will be used to determine how the government can help to speed up the rollout of electric HGVs according to the existing plans. Launching the survey, a DfT spokesperson had this to say:

“We’re looking to understand HGV movements in the UK to help build a picture of national infrastructure requirements for zero-emission HGVs.

To aid the rollout of zero-emission HGVs, it’s important to understand details about HGV drivers’ driving patterns, including daily driving distances, behaviours around rest and sleep breaks, and what vehicles they typically drive for which routes.

Completing this survey will help DfT to understand the infrastructure needs for zero emission HGVs and how to support the rapid rollout of new vehicles.”

Any HGV drivers or operators wanting to participate in the DfT HGV survey should visit the Freight Portal Website. All responses are anonymous.

Understanding the Zero Emission HGV Future

The future of the HGV industry looks very different in a zero-emission world, however, in order to get there, it’s important to understand what that future looks like. For the rollout of electric HGVs to be successful, the network needs to meet all driver and operator needs and asking for the input of those actually working in the industry is a wise move.

The results of the survey are yet to be known, but in the meantime, the HGV team will carry on doing what we’re best at – offering leading, scalable HGV licence acquisition programs via our extensive national training centre network. To find out more about us and what makes us different, please browse our website, where you’ll find everything you need to know.