The Common Issues Lone Workers Face in Transport & Logistics
12/08/2026
Across the United Kingdom, the transport and logistics sector serves as the vital backbone of the national economy. From long-distance haulage drivers and couriers to port logistics operators, public transport drivers, and highway managers, millions of workers keep goods and passengers moving around the clock. However, a significant proportion of this workforce operates in complete isolation—facing severe health, safety, and security challenges every day.
The Reality of Lone Working in the UK
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), approximately 20% of the UK’s total workforce are lone workers, amounting to roughly 9 million individuals. The transport and logistics sector contributes substantially to these numbers, given the inherently remote, mobile, and isolated nature of many roles.
Key Industry Statistics:
• 35% Feel at Risk: 35% of professional drivers surveyed feel at risk whilst working alone, particularly when operating at night or in remote locations.
• 20% Experience Aggression or Threats: 20% of drivers have faced physical attacks or direct threats from members of the public.
• Above National Average: HSE data shows that drivers and mobile operatives suffer rates of workplace aggression well above the UK national average of 1.4%.
• 22% Turnover Due to Safety: 22% of employees across isolated logistics roles cited safety concerns as the primary reason why they quit their job over a five-year period ("Quit before getting hit").
• 50% Underreported Incidents: 50% of incidents occurring off-site go underreported compared to traditional site-based roles due to communication barriers.
Key Challenges Faced by Isolated Drivers and Operatives
1. Threat of Aggression and Physical Violence
Workplace aggression in transport and logistics is alarmingly prevalent. Drivers frequently interact with the public in high-stress environments, carry valuable freight, or manage delayed services. Research shows that 1 in 5 professional drivers have faced physical attacks or direct verbal threats from members of the public.
2. The "Reservation of Isolation" at Night and Remote Locations
Working late shifts, making deliveries in dimly lit or remote industrial estates, and parking overnight in unsecured laybys create a terrifying environment for staff. Over 35% of drivers state that they feel actively at risk when working alone in these conditions.
3. High Turnover: "Quit Before Getting Hit"
Safety concerns directly impact staff retention across the logistics industry. Data reveals that 22% of employees across isolated logistics roles cited safety concerns as why they quit over a five-year period. Employers who fail to protect their personnel face severe recruitment costs and operational delays.
4. The Barrier of Underreporting
A staggering 50% of off-site incidents go underreported compared to fixed, site-based roles. When workers are out on the road or in remote maritime and port facilities, reporting minor collisions, verbal abuse, or near-misses is often perceived as overly complicated or ineffective, leaving management unaware of systemic risks.
Employer Duty of Care under UK Law:
Under HSE regulations and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, UK employers have an explicit legal duty of care to ensure the real-time protection and compliance of isolated staff.
How Modern Technology Resolves Lone Worker Risks
Resolving these entrenched challenges requires moving beyond basic mobile phones, which can easily be lost, damaged, or unusable during an acute crisis. Integrated hardware and smart communication platforms (such as TRBOCALL ecosystems) deliver real-time, mission-critical protection for isolated personnel:
Emergency Alarms & Man-Down/Fall Alerts - instant panic button triggers for immediate assistance; automated fall/impact sensors detect sudden incapacitation or accidents.
Automated Welfare Checks Scheduled - automated check-ins prompt drivers at pre-set intervals, escalating alerts automatically if a worker fails to respond.
Indoor & Outdoor Location Tracking - provides precise real-time GPS location mapping across motorways, remote rural routes, large warehouses, and covered loading bays.
Integrated Hardware Solutions - combines rugged push-to-talk (PTT) radios, body-worn cameras, and specialized lone worker handhelds (e.g., Motorola, Telox devices) into a unified safety grid.
Tailored lone worker safety solutions are actively deployed across critical sub-sectors throughout the UK to safeguard workforce wellbeing:
• Major Bus Transportation Companies: Protecting bus drivers against passenger aggression and late-night route hazards.
• Luxury Goods Transportation: Securing drivers moving high-value cargo against targeted theft and hijacking attempts.
• Port Logistics & Maritime Environments: Ensuring worker safety across expansive docklands, shipping terminals, and heavy machinery areas.
• Road Management Companies: Safeguarding highway crews and traffic officers operating in high-speed, high-hazard roadway settings.
Steer Your Lone Worker Strategy with Confidence
Meeting your legal HSE compliance standards while ensuring your workforce feels secure requires robust, specialized technology. Protect your remote team, reduce turnover, and eliminate reporting gaps today.
Contact Eemits Communications / TRBOCALL Solutions - freephone: 0800 328 0100, email: info@eemits.co.uk, or fill out our online contact us form.
News Archive
10/08/2026
09/04/2026
16/03/2026
19/02/2026
08/01/2026
23/12/2025
18/11/2025
25/09/2025
31/07/2025
31/07/2025
31/07/2025
30/06/2025
30/04/2025
30/04/2025
31/03/2025
26/03/2025
19/02/2025
13/02/2025
13/02/2025
07/02/2025
14/01/2025
17/12/2024
17/12/2024
13/12/2024
31/05/2024
28/05/2024
25/04/2024
05/02/2024
31/01/2024
22/12/2023
22/12/2023
22/11/2023
10/11/2023
27/10/2023
26/10/2023
22/09/2023
31/08/2023
09/05/2023
20/01/2023
23/12/2022
30/11/2022
31/10/2022
28/01/2021
14/09/2020
15/06/2020
22/05/2020
18/12/2019
31/07/2018
20/02/2018
05/10/2017
See What Our Clients Say
“Eemits Communications has been a long-time partner of Whitby Seafoods. Their single-site conventional digital repeater system has driven daily efficiency and given us greater on-site access control. We appreciate their continued commitment to customer satisfaction and look forward to what the future holds.”
"We have a great and longstanding working relationship with Eemits and they have always ticked every box. They offer an excellent, friendly and reliable service.
Eemits have a great understanding of the park and its needs for the customer and our retailers. With a positive can-do attitude, they never say no."
"We started working with Eemits following on from a recommendation from another customer. They provided us with a solution that suits our needs and they continue to supply the best service with no issues.
Eemits is a professional, friendly and reliable company."
"Eemits continue to provide us with a great supportive service consistently being very helpful. The whole team is great and it's very clear the staff have a great knowledge of the products and are happy to pass this on.
Eemits is a great company."
"The service offered by Eemits is second to none, we have a great working relationship with them and the contract we have is good value for money."
"We needed two-way radios for the guys on the test track and something that was scalable. The solution Eemits provided was far superior in comparison to other competitors offerings.
Everything is done in-house and the service and sales department is particularly good. As masters in their field they are extremely knowledgeable."
"Eemits dedicate a lot of time to us as a customer - we feel like we get a personal touch. They're excellent and go above and beyond. They'll put the work in - i.e. training users.
Good quality, good people, good team, all of who are positive about their company. They demonstrate real passion."
"The quality of service that Eemits provides is excellent. The team is very knowledgeable and they offer high quality products. The TRBOCALL solution fitted meets our site requirements and upgrades our technology.
Lone worker function is particularly useful allowing us to monitor our staff ensuring they are safe at all times."
"Eemits Communication is friendly, professional and competitive. They are excellent and their workmanship and knowledge is great.
Eemits attitude sets them apart - no problem is too big"
"Prior to the installation of our current system onsite communications were poor. Eemits Communications offered us guidance and advice on the different technologies available and delivered a highly effective system on time and within our budget. Its success has led to other departments using the system."
"Eemits Communications Ltd have been involved in work at Hartlepool Power Station for over 10 years now. During this time they have installed an Aerial network through our buildings to enable more efficient internal radio communications.
I have found the staff highly professional at all times and willing to provide help whenever they can, I would have no hesitation in recommending this company."
"Having previously worked with Eemits, we knew that we were dealing with a supplier that we could trust and one that could help us to significantly increase the safety of our lone workers with its unique solutions.
The equipment supplied by Eemits is excellent. We have been greatly impressed by the knowledge and skills of their engineers who have carried out the onsite surveys and installation of the system.
Eemits came up with an innovative approach to overcome challenges that we had with installing a system with the structure of our building, and as such, the quality of radio frequency is outstanding."
"The service delivered by Eemits has been excellent and we have developed a very good working relationship over the years.
As a local business to Falck Fire Services they can respond to faults or general requests very quickly - which is very important in our line of work - whereas similar suppliers have a greater response time.
TRBOCALL is an overall platform that has made a massive improvement to our communications in comparison to the analogue system that we had been using for many years. It provides us with many different applications that can be utilised across the business.
Since introducing TRBOCALL we have seen significant improvements related to safety and in our communications itself, which is critical to our operations."