New research from transport technology specialist Microlise has revealed that better technology tops the list of changes transport and logistics managers believe would improve mental health among their peers.
Released ahead of World Mental Health Day on Saturday 10 October, the findings show that one in five (20%) selected better technology as the best way to support their role. This ranked ahead of more time for rest and recovery between shifts (18%).
Increased pay and a greater distribution of responsibility across team members were each selected by 13% of respondents, while one in ten (10%) said shorter working days would make the greatest difference.
The findings come from Microlise’s second annual report, ‘Navigating UK Transport and Logistics in 2026 and Beyond’, based on a survey of 250 UK transport and logistics managers.
The research highlights the measures transport managers themselves believe could help support mental health as they balance a growing range of operational demands.
A further 9% selected better facilities and support while out on the road, while 9% pointed to greater visibility and clarity over daily tasks and expectations.
Administrative workload also featured in the findings. Four percent identified less manual paperwork through digital tools as the single change that would most improve mental health, while another 4% selected greater freedom to improve company processes.
Transport managers are responsible for an increasingly complex operational workload, spanning vehicle and driver compliance, route and load planning, maintenance, customer requirements and cost control.
Technology can help reduce elements of this workload by automating routine processes and providing greater visibility across fleet operations. AI enabled systems can also support route and load optimisation, maintenance planning and the analysis of vehicle and driver data, helping transport teams identify issues and make decisions more quickly.
The report also reinforces the potential impact of reducing administrative work. Transport managers estimate that manually processing proof of delivery documentation costs them more than two hours of working time, which equates to £172.40 every day.
Microlise CEO Nadeem Raza said, ‘What stands out from these findings is that better technology ranked above increased pay and shorter working days. Giving transport managers the right tools can help reduce some of the day to day pressures of running an increasingly complex operation, freeing up time and making workloads more manageable.
‘As World Mental Health Day approaches, operators should consider the practical changes they can make to better support the people responsible for keeping their fleets moving. Technology isn’t the whole answer, but it can play an important role in improving their working lives.’