Is late payment a big problem in the transport and logistics sector?

Yes. The transport and logistics sector has a higher rate of late payment than the UK average. 25% of invoices are paid late, compared to a national average of 24%.

Can I charge interest on late invoices?

Yes. Under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act 1998, you can charge statutory interest at 8% plus the Bank of England base rate on any overdue business-to-business invoice. You can also claim fixed compensation of £40 to £100 per invoice. You do not need to include this in your contract for it to apply.

How can I check if a specific company pays on time?

Use the PennyFetch payment checker tool to search over 9,000 large UK companies and see their actual payment record, including average days to pay, percentage of invoices paid late, and whether their payment speed is improving or getting worse.

Industry Data

Late payment in transport and logistics

How the UK transport and logistics sector compares on payment practices, based on official government data from 89 reporting companies.

Overview

Transport and logistics companies have an average payment record, though there is wide variation between large haulage firms and smaller operators. The industry has been under financial pressure in recent years, which has affected payment practices at some companies.

Key statistics

Avg. days to pay

UK median: 32

Invoices paid late

25%

UK average: 24%

Companies reporting

of 9,336 total

Transport and Logistics companies pay their suppliers in 37 days on average, which is 5 days slower than the UK median of 32 days. 25% of invoices in this sector are paid after the agreed terms.

Slowest payers in transport and logistics

These are the transport and logistics companies with the highest percentage of invoices paid after the agreed terms, based on their most recent government filing.

Company	Avg. days	% paid late
TUI UK TRANSPORT LIMITED	66	100%
DHL SERVICES LIMITED	38	100%
ABBEY LOGISTICS GROUP LIMITED	47	90%
CULINA LOGISTICS LIMITED	52	83%
CLIPPER LOGISTICS PLC	59	81%
WYG ENVIRONMENT PLANNING TRANSPORT LIMITED	56	81%
KPMG DELIVERY NETWORK ADVISORY SERVICES LTD	57	77%
BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO TAIWAN LOGISTICS LIMITED	23	68%
E-ZEC MEDICAL TRANSPORT SERVICES LTD	32	59%
HONDA LOGISTICS UK LIMITED	35	55%

Advice for freelancers working in transport and logistics

For logistics work, get signed proof of delivery and submit invoices promptly. Delays in invoicing often lead to even longer payment times. If you are a subcontractor or freelance driver, make sure you have a written agreement about payment terms before taking on regular work.

Frequently asked questions

Based on official government data, transport and logistics companies take an average of 37 days to pay their suppliers. 25% of invoices in this sector are paid later than the agreed terms.

Related tools and guides

Company payment checker

Look up a specific company to check their payment record.

All industry statistics

Compare late payment across every UK sector.

Late payment interest calculator

Work out what you are owed in interest and compensation.

How to chase an unpaid invoice

Step-by-step guide with email templates.

Data from the UK Government Payment Practices Reporting service. Published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Industry classification and analysis by PennyFetch. This page is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial or legal advice.

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