The Next Fleet Generation : As retirement cliff looms ever closer, majority of UK commercial drivers urge younger generations to join them

This blog is part of The Next Fleet Generation, a five-part series based on Samsara’s latest research into the UK’s driver recruitment challenge. Together, the blogs explore how technology, people and perception are reshaping driving and physical operations, examining everything from Gen Z’s attitudes and life on the road to the ways employers are building the next generation of fleets.

Ask commercial drivers how they feel about their jobs, and the answer is overwhelmingly positive. According to our survey*, most (85%) say they are satisfied with their work, and only a tiny minority (3%) are unhappy. Even more telling, 99% point to positives in their career, such as job security, independence, competitive pay, variety, and the simple satisfaction of being out on the road.

One of the clearest changes in recent years is how drivers feel they are viewed by others. When we carried out our research in 2023, only around a third of drivers believed the public respected their profession. By 2025, that figure had risen to 61%. Drivers also report stronger respect from fleet managers, senior leaders, and even the government compared to two years ago, marking a clear shift from the low point when the UK was hit by supply chain disruption.  

Technology is reshaping the job

Today’s drivers are also positive about the role that technology plays in their work. More than half (55%) say in-vehicle technology has improved, while nearly half (49%) say their job tech—from mobile devices to digital workflows—is better. 

And when asked about specific technologies, drivers are clear about what makes their work safer and more professional. Eight in 10 (81%) value safety alerts, 79% point to crash or incident detection, 77% support outward-facing dash cams, and 60% view inward-facing dash cams positively. Support for dual-facing cameras is higher still at 71%.

Reading between the lines, it’s fair to say that drivers increasingly see technology as a way to make their work smarter, safer, and more professional. And that includes the use of artificial intelligence (AI), which is currently used in cabs to spot and alert drivers who are drowsy or distracted. 

When pressed, more than half (55%) believe AI will make their jobs easier, and 51% even say it should be mandatory in vehicles. Importantly, 65% believe AI will create new job types in areas like fleet support, monitoring, and coaching.

Safety first, with tech and training

Beyond technology inside the cab, drivers also support wider measures to raise safety standards across the industry. Nearly eight in 10 (79%) want more investment in coaching and training, while a similar proportion (78%) back more frequent health checks. Two-thirds support regular Highway Code refreshers (68%) and graduated licences for younger drivers (67%). 

The message is clear: drivers don’t just want technology that makes their own lives easier—they want improvements that raise safety standards for the entire industry. And that’s important. Misconceptions about the industry remain difficult to shake, with drivers saying others still think it is a job for men (46%), isolating (41%), dangerous (40%), unskilled (39%), or lacking career growth (35%).

Yet these myths are challenged—in part, at least—by the personal experience of drivers themselves. They know the job is skilled, varied, and increasingly tech-driven. They know it can offer growth and progression. And they know that women, younger people, and diverse candidates can all thrive in it. If they’re given the chance.

But a retirement cliff is looming

And this is important because despite all this progress, it’s impossible to ignore what lies ahead. Nearly half of today’s drivers (49%) expect to retire or leave their role within the next five years. Many are approaching the end of long careers, and the pipeline of new recruits has not kept pace.

The picture that emerges is of a profession in transition. Drivers are satisfied with their work, they feel more respected than in the recent past, and they see clear benefits in the way technology is reshaping their jobs. Coupled with the fact that most current drivers (88%) would recommend the job to younger people, it suggests that it’s possible to head off—if not reverse—the recruitment shortfall. 

But that can only be achieved if all parts of the industry—employers, policymakers, training bodies, and drivers themselves—work together to modernise recruitment, invest in skills, technology, and show the next generation that this is a modern career worth choosing.

* Survey of 500 UK-based drivers aged 18+ carried out between September 9-23, 2025, by 3Gem.

Read more:

• The Next Fleet Generation : Technology holds key to solving ongoing driver recruitment crisis as Gen Z signal their interest in physical operations

• The Next Fleet Generation : How employers are improving driver recruitment and retention

• The Next Fleet Generation : Driving as a launchpad for a career in physical operations

• The Next Fleet Generation : Gen Z find driving careers appealing yet recruitment hurdles remain