Growth Driven by a Robust Logistics Network Will Drive Scottish Growth

The next Scottish government must invest in logistics infrastructure and skills if it wants to strengthen the robustness of the economy, according to a newly released manifesto from business group Logistics UK. 

Ahead of the Scottish Parliamentary election on 7 May 2026, Logistics UK has launched a manifesto detailing what it wants the next government to prioritise, so that the industry can deliver on growth. 

Alexandra Herdman, Senior Policy Manager at Logistics UK said: "Over 10,000 logistics businesses trade in Scotland, and 7.8% of the country's workforce is employed by the sector. 

"Logistics is one of Scotland's largest employers and is responsible for contributing £7.8 billion to Scotland's economy, as well as enabling all of its goods exports, with drink, machinery, and fish and shellfish topping the list. 

"To maintain this growth and Scotland's ability to compete internationally, the Scottish government needs to develop a freight and logistics plan that ensures key freight transport corridors are maintained." 

The transport projects highlighted in the manifesto include completing the planned dualling of the A9, dualling of the A75 and investing in the A77 to help enhance links between Northern Ireland and Scotland. To improve links between England and Scotland, it says the A1 should also be dualled, and there should be investment in rail capacity as well as electrification to the Port of Aberdeen. The business group is also clear that Scotland's transport corridors need secure facilities for the welfare of drivers. 

"Investment in transport corridors should be informed by Logistics UK's analysis of which routes are the most crucial for logistics flows, and which are in most urgent need of improvement," Herdman continued. "Ultimately, investing in key road corridors will reduce congestion and emissions, and rail and maritime infrastructure will make modal shift more economically viable. 

"Our industry is made up of a variety of modes, infrastructure types and business sizes. It is committed to a decarbonisation transition, but it is also operating on razor-thin margins, so any technologies or processes adopted must be cost-effective. 

"Logistics is a team effort. It plays a vitally important role in keeping goods and businesses moving, and strategies adopted concerning the industry must keep this collaborative spirit," concluded Herdman. 

Logistics UK is one of the UK's biggest business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, water and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, please visit logistics.org.uk