RHA and Women in Transport call for urgent action on intergenerational inclusion

The RHA (Road Haulage Association) and Women in Transport (WiT) are calling for urgent action to tackle a growing generational challenge in the UK transport and logistics sector. They urge the industry to better cater for generational expectations in the workplace as it faces up to long-term recruitment and retention challenges. The bodies have joint authored their Navigating Generational Change: Building a FutureReady Transport Workforce report which reveals that the average age of transport workers is now 46, with nearly 40 percent expected to retire within 10-15 years.

Only two percent of HGV drivers are under 25 at a time when the industry needs to attract 60,000 more a year for the next five years to meet demand and drive growth. Meanwhile, access to flexible working in frontline roles remains at just 14%, despite younger generations ranking flexibility and wellbeing among their top priorities. The report - which the bodies released at the RHA's Logistics Leaders Forum in London today (Tuesday 9 December) -  sets out 11 actions for employers to build a future-ready, multigenerational workforce:

1. Map workforce demographics and retirement risk
2. Audit and update policies for real-world usability
3. Train line managers in generational leadership
4. Introduce structured intergenerational mentoring
5. Elevate early-career and underrepresented voices
6. Modernise learning and development to suit all generations
7. Make health and life-stage inclusion standard
8. Build belonging across age groups
9. Embed generational inclusion into workforce strategy and KPIs
10. Share generational data across the sector
11. Prepare now for Gen Alpha

Richard Smith, Managing Director of the RHA, said:

"The road transport industry is the backbone of the UK economy.

But like every sector, it faces a changing world. By understanding how different generations view work, skills, and career progression, we can create strategies that attract, retain, and develop talent across every age group." Jo Field, Chair of Women in Transport, added:
"Age is still one of the most overlooked yet consequential aspects of workplace diversity.

If we fail to bridge generational perspectives, we risk losing the talent that makes our sector innovative and resilient. The organisations that succeed will be those that make the most of every generation's strengths." RHA and WiT warn that without immediate action, the sector risks significant skills gaps, reduced resilience, and long-term disruption to transport operations across the UK.

They call on transport and logistics businesses to share the report with their leadership and HR teams, and to partner with WiT and the RHA to pilot intergenerational initiatives.