Many van drivers in the UK consider their vehicle more than just transport, but as a place to escape the pressures of work. According to research by Peugeot, 43% of drivers who use a van for work consider it their own personal ‘quiet space’. More than a third (34%) of those surveyed called a van their ‘work office’, while 29% saw it as somewhere to escape workplace stress.
Drivers typically spend an average of 17 hours per week in their vans, equivalent to two standard working days. Ten percent said they are in their Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) for 21-25 hours per week, while 20% think of it as their second home.
The van serves as a mobile office and canteen, with 48% of drivers using their cab for lunch breaks. By comparison, only 28% of office workers eat lunch at their desks. Just 15% of van drivers usually eat lunch in a cafe, which suggests the idea of stopping at a ‘greasy spoon’ is now a cliche consigned to the history books. Indeed, 55% said they end up eating their lunch alone in their van.
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Some 64% of van drivers said they spend breaks listening to the radio, with 55% using the time to scroll through social media. Just over a third (37%) use the time to call friends or loved ones, with 28% catching up on emails and work admin. Challenging traditional white van stereotypes again, 19% of those questioned said they listen to podcasts and audiobooks, while 13% spend the time reading.
Vans are not just used for work, as almost 63% of drivers use their LCV for shopping, while 49% rely on it for visiting friends and family. Further blurring the boundaries between work and home, more than a quarter (26%) of drivers admit to using their van for the school run.
Steve Wass, managing director of Peugeot UK, said: “The work van is so much more than a means of getting from job to job. It’s an office, and crucially somewhere for van drivers to take a well-earned break. For 30 years, the Partner has been a reliable, versatile and comfortable solution in the compact van segment, and remains a firm favourite with UK van drivers to this day. With its generous standard equipment and unique i-Cockpit interior, it’s the perfect place for van drivers to spend time, whether at work or leisure.”
