Demand for fleets, including delivery and courier services, will only continue to grow, as research by insurtech Zego reveals that one in three Brits will maintain Covid delivery habits going forwards.

Survey respondents said they’d typically receive an extra seven packages per month

Two-thirds (66%) of the UK population saw a significant uptick in their delivery habits since the onset of the pandemic, with respondents saying they’d typically receive an extra seven packages per month. The delivery of takeaways, toiletries and items of clothing increased the most during this time, with a quarter of people saying delivery workers were a lifeline when they were sick (23%) or when products were out of stock in the shops (31%).

The research by commercial motor insurance provider Zego also revealed that over half of the UK population (55%) used delivery services for clothes during the pandemic, with online shopping accounting for a fifth of total sales in the online clothing market in the UK.

Newfound gratitude towards delivery drivers is evident, with 81% of respondents saying that they had been more important than ever during the pandemic and over a third saying they’ve been helped out by a delivery driver in the past 12 months.

A favourable outlook for delivery and courier services is a reflection of their crucial role during the pandemic. Zego, which provides insurance to a large number of fleet businesses and serves over a third of the delivery market, surveyed 2,000 UK adults of varying demographics across the UK to understand delivery habits post-Covid.

Sten Saar, CEO of Zego, said: “In Britain, we have always called on fleets of delivery drivers to make life more convenient for us, whether it’s having clothes delivered ahead of an event or food delivered at short notice. However, over the past 18 months, these key workers have played a priceless role in keeping the UK running and will continue to do so as we approach the festive season.

“We are proud to insure a large number of these fleets in the UK and now in Europe, allowing these businesses to save time and money on insurance costs.”