New research has revealed that almost every UK tradesperson puts their van to work at the weekend, not for business, but to help out friends and family.
According to the study by Direct Line business insurance, a huge 94% of tradespeople with a van use it outside of work hours, most commonly for moving furniture, helping with house moves, or taking rubbish to the tip.
The research also found that more than half (53%) of these favours are done for little more than a thank-you pint, with tradespeople agreeing to “call it a beer.”
In many cases, the generosity isn’t even their idea, one in seven (14%) say it’s actually their partner who volunteers them and their van for weekend favours.
Four in five tradespeople (83%) said they’ve used their van to move bulky items for friends or family, while nearly as many (79%) have helped someone move house or shift garden and DIY waste. But it’s not all about favours, seven in ten (69%) have used their van for a weekend away, and three in five (59%) have taken it on holiday, citing the extra luggage space as a big advantage.
Vans are also helping keep tradespeople active, with six in ten (61%) saying they’ve used theirs to haul sports gear such as bikes, surfboards, and paddleboards.
Others have used them to transport gazebos, food, and equipment for community events, or to ferry friends and family to the airport.
Eva Sandstra-Bennett, head of van insurance at Direct Line business insurance, said: “Our research shows that friends, families and communities across the country rely on the time and goodwill of tradespeople and their vans to help them ferry things around at the weekend."
"From clearing garden waste and helping families move house, to supporting local events and transporting equipment, vans play a vital role far beyond the job site," she added.
With nearly half of van owners (46%) regularly offering their vehicle to others, and a third (34%) saying they get regular requests for help, it’s clear that the UK’s vans aren’t just working hard Monday to Friday but at the weekends as well.
