The UK’s haulage industry has been dealt another blow as heavy goods vehicle (HGV) registrations plunged 11.2% in the second quarter of 2025, exposing deep cracks in the economy under Labour’s stewardship.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), only 10,185 new trucks joined Britain’s roads between April and June – a sharp fall from the same period last year.
The downturn highlights the fragility of Britain’s logistics backbone at a time when Labour’s high-tax, low-growth policies are driving businesses into retreat.
Market in Decline
The fall was led by a collapse in demand across almost all vehicle categories.
- Tractor units, which make up over 40% of the market, slumped 8.1% to 4,295 registrations.
- Box vans collapsed by a staggering 33.1%, with only 905 new units sold.
- Tippers and curtain-siders fell by 19.6% and 24.2%, respectively.
The only bright spot was refuse collection trucks, up 11.4%, driven by unavoidable public-sector procurement rather than business confidence.
Overall, both rigid and articulated segments saw steep declines, with year-to-date totals down 11.6% compared with 2024.
Zero-Emission Uptake Still Tiny
Labour ministers point to growth in zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) as evidence of progress. Registrations rose 59.1% in the first half of 2025. But the headline masks the reality: just 183 units were sold – less than 1% of the market.
With the Government mandating all new HGVs under 26 tonnes to be zero-emission by 2035, industry leaders warn operators are “just one buying cycle away” from being forced into compliance, without the infrastructure to support it.
Gridlock on Infrastructure
Labour’s green rhetoric is not matched by delivery. Despite July’s depot infrastructure grants, fleets face grid connection waits of up to 15 years, a timeframe that obliterates the UK’s 2040 phase-out target for diesel. Unlike the fast-tracking Labour has afforded data centres and wind farms, haulage firms are left stranded.
SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes welcomed depot funding but warned:
“Grid reform must now follow so that operators can get the chargepoints they need to confidently invest in their fleets.”
Regional Pain
The collapse in registrations is nationwide:
- Wales suffered the worst drop at -34.2%.
- Northern Ireland fell -14.3%.
- Scotland contracted -10.4%, and
- England declined -10.3%.
Labour’s Economic Failure
This latest slump follows a string of warnings from industry about slowing growth, collapsing business investment, and rising costs. Labour’s failure to provide certainty on energy, taxation, and infrastructure is leaving one of the UK’s most vital sectors paralysed.
The haulage industry, the lifeblood of Britain’s economy, is being choked by Labour’s economic incompetence. Unless the Government reverses course, operators warn Britain faces a supply chain crisis that will drive up costs for businesses and consumers alike.
