The latest Department for Transport (DfT) figures show continued improvements in the efficiency of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) helping meet the growing demand for delivery of goods across the UK, according to the Freight Transport Association (FTA).

The DfT road freight activity statistics for 2015 show the amount goods transported on the UK’s roads increased by 12% last year, but the logistics industry was able to achieve this with just a 9% increase in HGV use.

FTA head of national and regional policy Christopher Snelling said: “HGV use was already incredibly efficient, as being able to fill vehicles as much as possible is key to making a profit or keeping costs low.

“But as people and businesses across the UK demand more, the industry has continued to find increasingly efficient ways of meeting this need. HGV use has become almost a fifth more efficient just since 2004.”

The FTA said the data showed how vital road freight is for the UK supply chain, with three quarters of all UK goods movements being by road rather than by rail or water.

Snelling commented: “We need to do more to maximise the use of rail and water freight as part of making the UK’s supply chain as efficient, clean and safe as possible. But they can never replace the need for road freight – that is why the best future will see us maximise the efficiency of road freight as well as the other modes.”