New Department for Transport figures show that the number of British HGVs is nearly 10% lower in 2012 than in 2007, and the lowest since 1999.
The effects of the credit crunch saw 2009 register the largest year on year fall in HGV numbers.
The DfT says there is evidence of hauliers
using fewer, larger HGVs and more large
vans, meaning that the drop in HGV
numbers may not translate into a
reduction in national freight capacity.
In contrast car and light van numbers continued to grow, but more slowly than before 2007.
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