Truck and Track Spring 2026 www.truckandtrack.com 24 DESCARTES™ The UK’s road network is under increasing strain. There are now thought to be more than one million potholes across the country, with these defects a leading cause of vehicle breakdowns, according to the RAC. The impact is accelerating: last month alone saw an average of 225 pothole-related breakdowns per day - more than three times higher than the same period last year and over five times the daily average recorded across 2025. At the same time, the challenge shows little sign of easing. The Asphalt Industry Alliance’s latest ALARM Survey estimates the UK’s road maintenance backlog has reached a record £18.62 billion, underlining the growing pressure on both public infrastructure and the fleets that rely on it. Andrew Tavener, Head of Fleet Marketing EMEA at Descartes, gives advice how fleet operators can mitigate the impact of deteriorating road conditions. “The scale of the UK’s road maintenance backlog highlights a growing challenge for fleet operators. Poor road conditions don’t just impact journey times – they increase vehicle wear and tear, raise maintenance costs and add further pressure to already stretched delivery operations. “Fleet operators must take action if they want to reduce the operational impact the roads are having on their vehicles. Advanced route planning and telematics tools enable businesses to minimise unnecessary mileage, select more efficient routes and adapt quickly to changing road and traffic conditions. In turn this means there is less time spent on the road and therefore fleets limit exposure to damaged infrastructure while improving vehicle utilisation and lowering operating costs.” “These technologies also support more accurate ETAs and better communication with customers, helping businesses maintain reliable delivery performance even when external conditions are unpredictable. As cost pressures continue to build, improving day-to-day fleet efficiency will be critical to protecting margins, extending vehicle lifespan and maintaining service levels.” www.descartes.com How fleet operators can mitigate the UK’s pothole crisis Andrew Tavener, Head of Fleet Marketing EMEA at Descartes Foodservice distributors are operating in an increasingly challenging landscape. Whether it be inflation, fluctuating demand or labour shortages, it’s fair to say that the industry has been constantly up against it over the past few years. And when you combine this with the fact that there are rising customer expectations, it’s clear that the delivery experience can make or break a business. However, according to Research and Markets the foodservice profit sector is expected to reach GBP115.5 billion ($152.5 billion) in 2029, meaning the industry is getting bigger. The risk for distributors here, though, is clear: those that continue to treat last-mile ‘delivery’ purely as a back-office cost will struggle to capture their share of that growth. To remain profitable and compete in such a saturated market, good operational efficiency alone is no longer enough. For businesses to safeguard margins moving forward, they must now treat delivery as a strategic lever for growth, not as a cost to manage like it has been in the past. In this article, Andrew Tavener, Head of Marketing, Descartes, explores how distributors can reduce costs while unlocking new sources of revenue. Obstacles to profitable foodservice distribution There are numerous challenges facing the food service industry. The first being sales volumes. Despite steady growth since the COVID-19 pandemic, demand has not entirely bounced back. And from a revenue perspective, some companies have returned to pre-pandemic levels by raising final prices. But when it comes to sales volumes, demand is still prone to seasonal fluctuations. This means food distributors must safeguard their margins while looking for new growth opportunities. And while margins are so tight, just one slip-up in the delivery process could prove costly. High costs, driven by exploding rents and labour shortages, are another obstacle facing the industry. For instance, according to the Food Foundation, throughout 2025, inflation on food costs continued to remain firmly above the Bank of England’s 2% target and from August to October 2025 UK food inflation ran approximately two percentage points higher than the Euro Area average, says The Centre for Economic Transition Expertise. Additionally, the prices of fuel, energy and raw materials also remain historically high. This all comes at a time when environmental regulations favour newer vehicles and alternative fuels. While these measures should decrease costs in the long term, the upfront investment can put a dent in profits. With so many external factors impacting the bottom line, the onus is on distributors to increase efficiency and grow sales wherever possible. In practice, this is where poor route planning, failed last-mile deliveries, and manual processes become margin leaks that compound week after week. Customer expectations are also playing a part. Over the past years, a shift in customer expectations means that people expect more choice and fresher, locally-sourced products to be available to them. At the same time, economic constraints make cost a deciding factor when choosing where to eat. Unfortunately for hospitality businesses, this means that receiving goods ‘On Time, In Full’ is no longer enough. Distributors need to provide a higher level of service without increasing costs. Clients in the hospitality sector expect convenient time slots, same or next-day delivery options, real-time tracking, and electronic proof of delivery. To increase market share, food and beverage service suppliers must also invest in new technology and digital communication channels. What’s the answer? Some businesses have attempted to offset this by creating economies of scale through acquisitions and partnerships. While others are trying to specialise in a particular market segment. Many businesses have even tried charging their customers more, but this is shortsighted and won’t be tolerated for long. Another solution is to improve productivity and alleviate labour shortages through technology, such as route optimisation, and offering new products or sales channels to attract more customers and increase margins. One common Why Foodservice Distributors That Treat Delivery as a Cost Will Miss the Next Wave of Growth
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTE1MTA=