Many of the UK’s van drivers see their vehicle as more than just transport, but as a place to escape the pressures of work.
New research by Peugeot found that 43 percent of drivers who use a van for work consider it their own personal ‘quiet space’.
More than a third (34 percent) of those surveyed called a van their ‘work office’, while some 29 percent of drivers saw it as somewhere to escape workplace stress.
Those questioned by Peugeot admitted they typically spend an average of two standard working days, equivalent to 17 hours per week, in their vans.
Ten percent said they are in their Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) for 21-25 hours per week, while 20 percent think of it as their second home.
The mobile office and canteen on wheels
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the demands of life on the road, almost half (48 percent) of van drivers surveyed said their cab served as their canteen for lunch breaks. By comparison, only 28 percent of office workers eat lunch at their desks.
Just 15 percent 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 percent said they end up eating their lunch alone in their van.
Some 64 percent of van drivers said they spend breaks listening to the radio, with 55 percent using the time to scroll through social media.
Just over a third (37 percent) use the time to call friends or loved ones, with 28 percent catching up on emails and work admin.
Challenging traditional white van stereotypes again, 19 percent of those questioned said they listen to podcasts and audiobooks, while 13 percent spend the time reading.
Carrying more than just cargo
Demonstrating that vans are far more than just a tool for work, Peugeot’s survey uncovered that almost 63 percent of van drivers use their LCV for shopping, while 49 percent rely on it for visiting friends and family.
Further blurring the boundaries between work and home, more than a quarter (26 percent) 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.”
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