Britain's van drivers are ditching their stereotypical lifestyle in favour of healthy eating and regular trips to the gym, a study has found. Despite the traditional characterisation of being overweight, junk food loving and exercise shy, many van drivers are now more likely to be found tucking into a healthy lunch and heading to the gym at the end of the day.

Evidence from a report commissioned by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles suggests the tide is turning and that drivers are abandoning sweet, fatty and salty snacks in favour of healthier options.

One in seven van drivers questioned said they made their own packed lunch in order to control their diet and avoid temptation, while one in ten said they stuck to a healthy diet of fruit, vegetables and salad whilst out on the road. Four in ten had also pledged to ditch unhealthy snacks like crisps and sweets in favour of salads and fruit.

Sarah Cox, Head of Marketing for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, which commissioned the study, said, “This research seems to show that nowadays, van drivers are leading a much healthier lifestyle than you might expect. Rather than grabbing whatever they can while out on the road, they are tucking into homemade lunches of salad and fruit – a far cry from the food you might expect them to be eating.”

Further indications of a more healthier outlook were revealed when drivers were asked about their levels of physical activity. The results suggest the sedentary lifestyle is no longer the norm with an  average driver working out at least twice a week with one in ten saying they work out in the gym at least five times every week with three quarters taking some form of exercise at least once every seven days. Van drivers in the West Midlands the revealed to be the most active, working out an average of three times a week while Scottish van drivers exercised the least.

Football emerged as the sport of choice for 54% of van drivers, while 29% were more likely to be found watching or playing rugby. Golf also featured highly with around 20% mentioning it as their favourite activity, with tennis, snooker and cycling also popular among van drivers. 12% also listed scuba diving.

The survey suggests that the modern commercial van driver is far from the stereotype but what it also revealed was the commonly held notion of the ‘white van man’ is outdated as of the 500 surveyed, 43% were women.

When asked about their favourite hobbies and interests outside of work, there was a broad range of responses with 35% enjoying reading and 28% saying they love to cook up a storm in the kitchen. Going to the theatre was popular with 22% of respondents while collecting antiques, art or drawing featured prominently.

While the report is based a snapshot of commercial vehicle drivers it clearly illustrates the old stereotypes can be consigned to history sooner rather than later.

“This research has shown that some of the preconceptions about commercial vehicle drivers are well wide of the mark, and the van drivers of today accurately reflect the society they come from: diverse, motivated, courteous, smart and a lot more concerned about their own health and the well-being of those around them than you might think” commented Sarah Cox. “Driving a commercial vehicle for a living can be challenge, which probably explains why it attracts people with this kind of ‘can-do’ attitude”.