Plumbers are spending a significant portion of the day travelling between appointments and job sites, which means that time spent in traffic isn’t just frustrating; it can also be costly. Congestion can cut into working hours, delay appointments and impact potential earnings.
A new study by temporary business van insurance experts, Tempcover, uses Department for Transport congestion data, along with average van mileage and trade hourly rates, to estimate how much time tradespeople spend in traffic and the effect this could have on their annual take-home pay.
On average, van drivers spend around 98.6 hours per year delayed on roads across England. At an average rate of £44 per hour, this could cost tradespeople approximately £4,336 each year in lost earnings.
Trades most affected by potential earnings lost to traffic
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Plumbers and Electricians – £4,927.95: Plumbers and electricians share the top spot, potentially losing over £4,900 per year due to traffic congestion. With an average hourly rate of £50 and van drivers delayed by nearly 99 hours annually, these trades could be missing out on just under £5,000.
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Gas Engineers – £4,878.67: Gas engineers earn slightly less than plumbers and electricians, at an average of £49.50 per hour, but still face potential annual losses of £4,878 due to time spent in traffic.
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Plasterers – £4,681.55: Plasterers may lose over £4,680 annually due to traffic delays, based on an average hourly rate of £47.50 and typical van delays of nearly 99 hours per year.
|
Rank |
Trade |
Average hourly rate |
Potential annual earnings lost |
|
1= |
Plumbers |
£50.00 |
£4,927.95 |
|
1= |
Electricians |
£50.00 |
£4,927.95 |
|
3 |
Gas Engineers |
£49.50 |
£4,878.67 |
|
4 |
Plasterers |
£47.50 |
£4,681.55 |
|
5 |
Mobile Mechanics |
£45.00 |
£4,435.16 |
|
6 |
Roofers |
£44.50 |
£4,385.88 |
|
7 |
Builders |
£40.00 |
£3,942.36 |
|
8 |
Carpenters |
£37.50 |
£3,695.96 |
|
9 |
Painters |
£32.00 |
£3,153.89 |
To help tradespeople make the most of their working day, Claire Wills-McKissick, temporary business van insurance expert at Tempcover, shares her top tips on how tradespeople can navigate congestion and minimise the impact of delays:
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Group jobs by postcode or area: Many trade professionals book up weeks, or even months, in advance. This allows for some planning when it comes to organising your schedule. If possible, group jobs by postcode or area, so that you aren’t travelling large distances every day.
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Leave buffer time between jobs to account for delays: Traffic is often unpredictable, and most of the time, caused by factors beyond your control. Because of this, it’s a good idea to leave a little more travel time than you think you might need between jobs. This reduces the risk of arriving late to your next job and setting off on the wrong foot with a customer.
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Use live traffic or route-planning apps: When it comes to avoiding congestion, live traffic apps are your best friend. These apps provide real-time traffic updates, navigation assistance and safety alerts, allowing you to re-route around accidents or roadworks, for example. This reduces the chance of running into unexpected traffic and means you are more likely to reach your destination on time.
