Timewise has warned that the UK’s logistics sector faces a worsening workforce crisis unless employers change how frontline jobs are designed and scheduled.
Research carried out by Timewise and Trust for London found that poor job design in logistics is driving sickness, safety risks and recruitment shortages across the sector.
Unpredictable hours, tough schedules and little control over working time were linked to high levels of sickness absence, with transport and storage coming in second-highest across all UK industries.
The report found 39% of workers in logistics felt insecure in their jobs, which was higher than any other sector.
Around 32% said they had a poor work-life balance and 40% said they had little control over their hours.
Timewise found these pressures were making people leave the industry, leading to more health problems among drivers, including higher rates of diabetes and more fatigue-related safety risks.
Retention was already a problem, with over half of long-haul drivers aged over 50 and 350,000 workers set to retire by 2030.
The report noted that while logistics firms are using more artificial intelligence (AI)-driven scheduling and productivity systems, these often make things worse for workers.
Timewise set out a six-step model for employers and called for Government, industry bodies and tech providers to work together to modernise job design.
The report noted that new laws on job security and flexible working may not be enough if employers do not change how they organise work.
Tess Lanning, director of programmes at Timewise, said: “Logistics keeps the country moving. But the people who power the system are under impossible pressure.
“Healthy job design isn’t a ‘nice to have’ – it’s the key to solving the workforce crisis.”
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