“New year, new me” say 9 in 10 UK van drivers

Milton Keynes, UK, 28 January 2025 – 86% of UK van drivers have resolved to make healthier choices in 2025, prioritising better eating habits, more regular exercise and taking steps to improve their mental health, according to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ latest study.1In 2024, the lunch of choice for on-the-go UK van drivers was homemade sandwiches, snacks and wraps (56%), followed by fast-food options (42%), shop-bought meal-deals (39%), microwaveable meals (31%), and instant noodles or pasta (26%).1However, of the 1,000 UK van drivers surveyed in the annual study, 65% intend to make healthier food choices in the coming year.1More than half (52%) of the van drivers admitted to not getting enough exercise, falling short of the recommended 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity each week.1 As part of their new year health kick, 57% of van drivers are therefore looking to incorporate more exercise into their weekly routine.1An increase in weekly working hours (2024 versus 2023) was reported by 61% of respondents, making it harder for UK van drivers to prioritise getting more regular exercise and taking steps to improve their mental health.1This resulted in 63% of van drivers feeling overwhelmed by work every month – a sharp increase compared to 51% the year before2 – with one quarter (28%) citing a poor work-life balance as a key source of stress.1 In 2025, 38% of UK van drivers are seeking to prioritise a better work-life balance1 to improve their mental health.Craig Cavanagh, National Fleet Manager and Mental Health First Aider at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “Prioritising health and fitness can be a real challenge, particularly when you’re on-the-go or working long hours, so it’s great to see so many van drivers making this a priority for the year ahead. We’re all aware of the positive impact that a healthy diet can have on our mood and mental wellbeing, and with an alarming number of van drivers concerned about work-life balance and looking to prioritise better mental health, these efforts are even more essential to help van drivers stay in good physical and mental shape.”