NISSAN says companies ‘will have to start recruiting young blood to replace an ageing workforce’, with more than one third of van drivers over 45-years-old.

Just three per cent of van drivers are aged between 16 and 24, with 39 per cent over 45-years-old, according to the Japanese car and van manufacturer.

“Van drivers are a loyal bunch with 45 per cent of correspondents saying they had been with their employer for six years or more,” a Nissan spokesman said.

Nissan surveyed 250 drivers and 252 fleet managers to source facts for their findings and is using the survey to encourage more van drivers to consider going green. 

And while 48 per cent of van drivers said they drove less than 100 miles a day, two thirds said they could not live without their radio or MP3 player. Seven per cent claimed they always listened to talkSPORT while driving, ‘reinforcing that professional drivers do love their sport’. BBC Radio 2 proved to be the most popular with 23 per cent tuning in while behind the wheel. Meanwhile 14 per cent of drivers prefer the more mainstream music aired on BBC Radio 1.

“With almost half of van drivers questioned driving less than 100 miles a day, the research further supports our decision to build an electric van,” explained an excited Jon Pollock, Corporate Sales Director for Nissan. “We are excited to be showcasing the new zero CO2 emission eNV200 in the UK for first time at the CV show, which also responds to the need for reduced fuel costs.”

The electric Nissan NV200 could save a huge amount of in fuels costs for van drivers.

One in every 12 van drivers has worked for their employer for more than 20 years, making it more difficult for the younger generation to show off their driving skills to prospective employers. But with 34 per cent of drivers working in companies with fewer than five employees, a huge number of van drivers are sole traders and there are an increasing number of young entrepreneurs investing in vans for their business. 

With only one in every 20 drivers being female, it is very much a male-dominated profession. “Any future recruitment campaigns could aim to balance up a gender ratio by employing more women,” Mr Pollock said.

Despite this, 23 per cent (one in every four) of fleet managers are women, most aged 45 to 50, while three per cent were 16 to 24. 

Nissan says the discrimination against young van drivers and young fleet managers is ‘an issue which needs to be addressed quickly’.