New data reveals retail delivery firms have the hardest working fleets

Pictured: David Savage, Chief Revenue Officer, Lightfoot

RETAIL sector delivery vehicles work harder than any other sector, but best-in-class operators are leading the way on efficiency and emissions savings, says fleet technology specialist Lightfoot.

Drawing on data from all Lightfoot-equipped vehicles and sectors over the past 12 months, new findings show that retail delivery drivers often travel less mileage than other at-work drivers yet experience more frequent stop-start driving due to traffic and suburban routes, significantly slower average speeds and much higher vehicle utilisation.

Retail fleets included in the analysis span some of the UK’s best-known brands, including Currys Plc, Iceland, Tesco, and Asda.

“For the first time, our analysis shows the considerable strain that retail delivery fleets are under, but that the biggest brands in the sector are recognising these pressures and managing them.”

David Savage, Chief Revenue Officer, Lightfoot Tweet

“Home delivery is an integral part of any retail business now, and how this is achieved in terms of cost, safety and productivity is essential to any bottom line. The data clearly shows that fleets using our in-cab coaching and reporting technology are working extremely hard, but also succeeding, and saving money, at this core service.”

Slower routes, longer days, higher pressure

While retail drivers cover fewer miles individually, at an average of 5,381 miles compared to 8,238 miles, retail vehicles travel more than 2.5 times the annual mileage of non-retail vehicles – 25,362 miles versus 9,985 miles.

This is driven by multi-driver usage, with between four and five drivers per retail vehicle, and a near one-to-one driver-to-vehicle ratio in sectors outside retail.

“This intensive sharing model places greater strain on vehicles and creates additional compliance, accountability and driver management challenges – areas that Lightfoot’s technology is designed to address by providing individual driver visibility, even in shared vehicles,” said Savage.

More harsh events and vehicle strain, even at lower speeds

Retail driving also proves more demanding behind the wheel. Including engine-on but non-driving time, retail fleets average just 16 miles every hour, which is around 30% slower than non-retail fleets, which manage 23 miles each hour.

Taking idling and engine-on but stopped time out, then retail sector drivers only average 22mph compared to 31mph for non-retail sectors. Yet they use more fuel and electric, averaging 22mpg compared to all fleets’ 27mpg, and 1.4 miles per kWh compared to 1.9 for all commercial vehicles.

Vehicles are running for significantly longer to achieve their working requirements, reflecting dense urban routes, frequent stops, customer deliveries and time-critical schedules.

“The mechanical load on these vehicles is huge,” David Savage said. “The fact they only average 16 miles every hour over long days and nights shows the vehicles are being used to pick up goods from depots and travel in fairly local areas, but with many stops for deliveries and a lot of congestion.

“This puts a strain on parts such as gearboxes and clutches, and so driving carefully and being mechanically sympathetic is vital if a fleet is not going to be hit by significant levels of vehicle off-road time, which can hit budgets and productivity hard.”

The environment in which retail delivery fleets operate, such as congested streets and urban locations, means the number of harsh events recorded such as heavy braking or swerving are higher too: on average one every three miles compared to one every 4.5 miles for non-retail.

“These drivers are not doing regular routes. They are often on unfamiliar, crowded roads delivering to customers and as a result, there is a lot of pressure on them,” said Savage. “That the number of harsh events recorded by our technology is only marginally higher than drivers in other sectors is testament to their skill and commitment.”

Seasonal demand further amplifies the pressure on retail fleets. Lightfoot data shows that in the run-up to Christmas 10% of all retail driving hours, fuel consumption and miles occurred during the pre-festive period. There was also a big increase in electrification during this period, with 17% of electricity used by retail fleets in 2025 happening in the final month.

Retail fleets leading on sustainability

Despite these challenges, the strongest retail fleets are also delivering outsized sustainability gains: 58% of all CO₂ savings achieved across Lightfoot fleets in 2025 came from retail and 55% of total fuel costs savings were delivered by them too.

Lightfoot retail sector customers saved nearly £8.5 million in fuel and 800,000kWh of electricity in the last 12 months.

This reflects a growing culture within retail of looking after vehicles between multiple drivers, embracing driver engagement, and using data-led tools to improve efficiency, safety and emissions.

“I genuinely think the management and drivers running these complex retail operations have to be applauded,” said David Savage.

“We see cultures in these businesses where compliance, safety and engagement are second to none, and that is not easy when you consider the number of drivers using each vehicle. Establishing accountability from each employee is very important in this working environment, or you can lose control of the fleet, and sight of where problems are arising.

“We use an RFID-enabled variant of our in-cab device designed to identify specific drivers so no matter how many each vehicle has, data gets allocated and uploaded precisely to the correct driver.

A rewarding driving app

Tens of thousands of employees use the Lightfoot app to monitor and improve their own driving performance, with progress driven by its real-time feedback, gamification and ongoing engagement tools. This approach helps embed long-term behavioural change across fleets, rather than relying on one-off incentives.

A small device communicates directly with the vehicle’s engine and provides the driver with visual and verbal feedback to stay within the engine’s ‘sweet spot’ (optimum efficiency).

“We have seen drivers using the app achieve a 9% uplift in MPG compared to those who do not, demonstrating the measurable impact of sustained engagement on efficiency and performance. In retail fleets specifically, this consistent improvement is helping operators enhance fuel economy, reduce emissions and strengthen overall fleet control in demanding operating environments,” said Savage.

A ‘Fitbit for cars and vans’, Lightfoot is pioneering a new standard for measuring efficient driving. Lightfoot’s technology has been developed in partnership with leading driver-behavior experts at Bath University. Using advanced, real-time engine analytics that measure different factors such as load and road gradients, it provides live, in-cab coaching to help drivers improve efficiency and safety. It claims accident reductions of up to 40% (validated by Allianz Insurance Plc)

Tests at Bath University’s Institute of Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems proved a direct correlation between Lightfoot’s in-cab visual alerts and reductions in NOx. Studies showed when drivers halve the number of lights on Lightfoot’s in-cab dashboard device, a fivefold reduction in NOx is achieved.

Lightfoot’s industry-leading solution combines instant in-cab coaching via the dashboard mounted device with its driver rewards platform to deliver substantial, sustainable results. The dashboard display device uses live engine data to provide drivers with real-time visual and audible feedback, allowing them to manage their own performance and build better driving habits.

Alongside the in-cab device, Lightfoot also provides a dedicated Drivers App. Here, drivers can view their performance data, keep track of their driving score, and compete in league tables with other drivers. When they reach Lightfoot’s ‘Elite Driver’ standard (scoring 85% or higher) they gain access to a range of exclusive competitions, including The Drivers’ Lottery, where they can win up to £200 each week, and a host of prize giveaways, such as consumer tech. Together, this helps to incentivise better driving, ensuring long-lasting results.

Lightfoot regularly achieves driver engagement levels in excess of 60%, which compares favourably with conventional telematics that struggle to achieve engagement levels higher than 5%.