People power keeps van heroes moving.

Added: 10 June 2020

The nation’s van community is working harder than ever on the front line to deliver more medical supplies, groceries, essential goods and parcels – but it’s come at considerable personal cost. With the average driver’s working week increasing by almost 5 hours during this crisis - that’s almost 20 hours more a month - we ask: where does their determination and resilience come from? 

Times are tough – but the van community is tougher 

The extra effort required to keep households and the supply chain moving in extraordinary circumstances has compromised the work/life balance of 1 in 3 members of the community – indeed, almost 50% say that being away from home for long periods of time is their biggest concern right now, above mental wellbeing (38%) and physical health (36%). 

The sacrifices being made by van drivers and operators are clearly significant, which makes their achievements over the past few months all the more remarkable. There can’t be many households that don’t have reason to thank the UK’s van community right now – it really has kept us all moving. But what keeps them moving? 

We all draw strength from each other 

Whether it’s their colleagues, their employer or the great British public – it’s people that are helping to power the van community throughout this challenging time. 

43% of drivers and operators say they’ve been able to more easily adapt to the new normal thanks to their employers’ clear communication on new working guidelines. And 50% say that support they’ve received from those within the close-knit van community has had a positive impact on their outlook. 

But it’s the goodwill of customers that really shines through in our survey. 82% of van drivers and operators feel that their efforts are appreciated by customers right now, with 27% receiving a thank you message on social media and 21% receiving applause while out on delivery. 

Given that 78% of the van community rightly feels that they are helping keep the general public safe at this time, it’s brilliant to see that their hard work is not unseen, and is greatly appreciated. Everyone here at Mercedes-Benz Vans certainly salutes the whole van community... 

 “You’d be hard pushed to find anyone that the van community hadn’t reached at some point, let alone during the pandemic; they deliver goods, enable services and transport people often behind the scenes and unnoticed, so we’re delighted that so many are now being recognised and thanked by the public for their hard work. It is important that we continue to support this vital sector with kindness, because without them, quite simply the country would not be running in the same way.” 

Steve Bridge, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans

 “You’d be hard pushed to find anyone that the van community hadn’t reached at some point, let alone during the pandemic; they deliver goods, enable services and transport people often behind the scenes and unnoticed, so we’re delighted that so many are now being recognised and thanked by the public for their hard work. It is important that we continue to support this vital sector with kindness, because without them, quite simply the country would not be running in the same way.” 

Steve Bridge, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans

 The nation’s van community is working harder than ever on the front line to deliver more medical supplies, groceries, essential goods and parcels – but it’s come at considerable personal cost. With the average driver’s working week increasing by almost 5 hours during this crisis - that’s almost 20 hours more a month - we ask: where does their determination and resilience come from? 

Times are tough – but the van community is tougher 

The extra effort required to keep households and the supply chain moving in extraordinary circumstances has compromised the work/life balance of 1 in 3 members of the community – indeed, almost 50% say that being away from home for long periods of time is their biggest concern right now, above mental wellbeing (38%) and physical health (36%). 

The sacrifices being made by van drivers and operators are clearly significant, which makes their achievements over the past few months all the more remarkable. There can’t be many households that don’t have reason to thank the UK’s van community right now – it really has kept us all moving. But what keeps them moving? 

We all draw strength from each other 

Whether it’s their colleagues, their employer or the great British public – it’s people that are helping to power the van community throughout this challenging time. 

43% of drivers and operators say they’ve been able to more easily adapt to the new normal thanks to their employers’ clear communication on new working guidelines. And 50% say that support they’ve received from those within the close-knit van community has had a positive impact on their outlook. 

But it’s the goodwill of customers that really shines through in our survey. 82% of van drivers and operators feel that their efforts are appreciated by customers right now, with 27% receiving a thank you message on social media and 21% receiving applause while out on delivery. 

Given that 78% of the van community rightly feels that they are helping keep the general public safe at this time, it’s brilliant to see that their hard work is not unseen, and is greatly appreciated. Everyone here at Mercedes-Benz Vans certainly salutes the whole van community... 

“You’d be hard pushed to find anyone that the van