UK transport activity recovers to 84% of pre-Covid 19 levels, reports Geotab

The UK’s transport sector activity has recovered to 84% of its pre-Covid-19 lockdown baseline, according to telematics data from Geotab and Webfleet Solutions.

Following ‘Super Saturday’ (July 5), when the UK hospitality industry re-opened to the public, the transport sector’s total recovery climbed from 79% the week prior to 84% (as at July 10).

However, there have been sector differences. For example, business services activity (consisting of non-essential services such as cleaning, office supply deliveries and facilities management) has reached 71% as at July 10 (compared to an average of 45% in the UK’s second week of lockdown), while UK freight activity (consisting of essential services, necessary goods, such as food, medicine and post) has remained relatively high throughout the lockdown.

It stood at an average of 71% in the second week of lockdown and has risen to 94%, as at July 10.

Activity from fleets within the construction industry has reached 88% of its baseline (as at July 10), compared with 66% in the second week of lockdown.

The data comes from the latest Commercial Mobility Recovery Dashboard report, which Geotab and Webfleet Solutions produce on a weekly basis.

David Savage, regional manager, UK & Ireland of Geotab, said: “As the lifeblood to our economies, commercial fleet activity can act as a strong economic barometer, used to help inform policy, management and forecasting at both macro and local levels. As vehicles become more connected and telematics technology more widely adopted, we will see it  not only help shape these decisions but also drive huge cost efficiencies and breakthrough innovations in how our society functions.”

Beverley Wise, sales director UK & Ireland of Webfleet Solutions, added: “Now more than ever, it is crucial that we make the most out of the anonymised and aggregated data available to us in analysing the impacts on our businesses and our economy. This joint initiative enables us to provide deep data-driven insights that will also help support our customers to get their businesses back on the road as they plan their route to recovery.”