Transport & storage firms shun flexible working

Sept. 11, 2025 - PRLog -- According to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) Business Insights and Conditions Survey, the number of transport & storage sector companies reporting that homeworking will remain part of their permanent business model has fallen to 2.8%.

The home delivery expert Parcelhero says fewer transport & storage companies (the category which includes logistics, parcels, haulage and warehousing employers) now report they use homeworking compared to any other sector, even including accommodation & food services.

Parcelhero's Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., says: 'This result shows a marked decline in enthusiasm for flexible working from when the question was last asked in the survey, which was back in the spring. Between 19 May and 1 June, 8.2% of companies responding to the survey reported they were using or intending to use increased homeworking as a permanent business model going forward. This latest survey, held between 18 to 31 August, revealed just 2.8% said homeworking was part of their permanent business model.

'In contrast, the latest survey responses from transport & storage companies' manufacturing and retail partners reveal greater enthusiasm for homeworking. 7.7% of manufacturers and 14.1% of retailers said they use or intend to use increased homeworking as a permanent business model. Indeed, in a number of other business sectors, the difference in attitudes to working from home is even more marked. 37% of science & technical sector businesses and a whopping 47% of information & communication sector organisations said homeworking is part of their permanent business model.

'Could this reluctance on the part of transport & storage sector firms to continue with hybrid working practices be impacting their results? The survey also reveals a worrying 14.5% of transport & storage firms reporting they have been unable to meet demands because of a shortage of workers. That's the highest number of businesses reporting this problem of any business sector.

'However, while transport & storage sector companies clearly need to examine whether their less flexible working practices are outdated or just plain unattractive, there are good reasons why the sector cannot embrace homeworking as wholeheartedly as the IT and comms sectors. 63% of transport & storage companies said that homeworking is not suitable for their business.

'In many ways, this makes sense. Drivers and warehouse operatives need to be physically in their driving seats or distribution centres and cannot work from home. However, this does seem to have created an anti-homeworking mindset within the sector, which isn't seen in many others.

'Working from home is just one of the transformations that technology is enabling across the logistics and wider retail sector. Parcelhero's study on the future of retail looks at changes to working practices, supply chains and both online and physical stores. You can find out more at: https://www.parcelhero.com/research/shop-of-the-future