Across the UK and the world, the future of hook loaders is positive with the hook loader market continuing to experience steady expansion. The growing world economy is ensuring growth in waste management requirements and associated infrastructure development.
Coupled with this, increasing financial pressures and ever-tightening emissions standards are driving the demand for efficient waste handling systems. In this article we look at what the future of hook loaders looks like in the waste management sector.
The Future of Hook Loaders
In May 2025, an OG Analysis report stated that:
“The Global Hook Lifts and Skip Loaders market was valued at USD 3.4 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 8.9 billion by 2034 at a [growth rate] of 11.3%”
Source: https://www.oganalysis.com/industry-reports/hook-lifts-and-skip-loaders-market
Earlier research by Grand View Horizon suggests that:
“The UK loader market generated a revenue of USD 1,648.0 million in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 2,123.7 million by 2030…The UK market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.2% from 2023 to 2030”
Source:https://www.grandviewresearch.com/horizon/outlook/loader-market/uk
This increase demonstrates a continuing rise in volumes of waste and also reflects increases in industrial recycling initiatives. We are seeing an increased demand for recycling infrastructure, however this is intrinsically linked with rising cost pressures on fleets and waste management operators which is in turn driving a quest for vehicles to be multifunctional and have minimal downtime.
To meet these requirements, hook loader manufacturers are already tailoring their vehicles to offer multi-container handling and modular systems as well as retrofitting time-saving devices such as cab-operated remote control lifting systems.
Some companies are reporting that they are renting hook loaders rather than buying them so that they can upgrade their operational fleet with lower initial investment. There is also a growing trend towards fleet electrification which is influencing design changes with electric and biofuel vehicles being introduced alongside developments in diesel engine design to decrease emissions and meet Euro VII emission standards.
Euro VII: The New Emissions Standard
The Euro VII (or Euro 7) emissions standard will come into place in late 2026 and replaces the previously separate emissions regulations for light and heavy-duty vehicles across the UK and Europe.
This update is the strictest standard yet. As well as subjecting all vehicles to the same standards regardless of engine type, it introduces non-exhaust emissions from brakes and tyres for the very first time and extends the required period of compliance.
The key features of Euro VII are:
- Same regulations for light- and heavy-duty vehicles including proper limits on electric vehicles for the first time
- Inclusion of non-exhaust emissions (brakes dust and tyre particles)
- Extended period of compliance of 10 years or 875,000km (544,000 miles) for the largest HGVs
- Testing will be carried out under more realistic driving conditions and a broader range of scenarios
- Electric and hybrid vehicle battery testing, expect 80% after 60,000 miles or 5 years and 72% after 100,000 miles or 8 years
Further information on the Euro VII emissions standard can be found in our article here.
What does Euro 7 mean for the hook loader industry?
To meet the stricter emissions requirements under Euro 7, hook loader manufacturers will need to invest more into research and development so that future engines are compliant with the new regulations. It is likely that new products will be developed that improve the life of brake discs and pads.
At the local level, fleet operators and workshops will need to carry out even more vehicle maintenance and servicing to meet stricter emissions standards. Engine filters and braking-system dust traps will need to be cleaned and replaced more frequently.
Electric and hybrid manufacturers will also need to find affordable solutions to address battery longevity. Batteries will require testing for longer periods to make sure that they remain “healthy” and meet the Euro 7 standards.
All this will inevitably lead to increased costs being passed down to the consumer.
Electric Options
Hook loaders powered by electricity and other alternative fuels are gaining popularity as environmental responsibility and sustainability matters more and more.
Tesla launched the Tesla Semi in 2017 which began making limited deliveries in 2022. The refined 2025 model has gone into mass production and looks set to become a major contender in world wide logistics.
Whilst the Tesla Semi hasn’t yet been approved for use on UK roads this is definitely a space worth watching. It’s also worth noting that Tesla is also lobbying for stricter carbon emission standards.
Electric and Fuel Cell Technologies
With a variety of engine options such as electric, LNG (liquified natural gas), hydrogen fuel cells and CNG (compressed natural gas), there are many different types of non-diesel hook loader available to the waste management sector. The sector is competitive, and new developments are being made all the time.
Goods and waste transport is a sector that has lagged behind refuse collection and public transport in terms of electrification, but this is changing.
The manufacturer Volvo believes that by 2030 over half of all new Volvo trucks sold will be electric, using either battery or fuel cell technology (source: volvotrucks.com) and they are not alone. Scania estimates that by the end of 2025, 10% of their vehicle sales will be electric and 50% by the end of the decade.
One argument against electric hook loaders is their increased weight due to the number of batteries required to power the vehicle which would affect payload, which will vary according to each vehicle, however the EU recognises this and is allowing an extra 2 tonnes gross vehicle weight to help compensate for this.
Urban Operations
With many urban areas declaring that some roads will become accessible only to zero-emission vehicles in the future, it seems an obvious choice to transition to a hook loader powered by battery electric power or fuel cell technology such as LNG or CNG.
Electric options do bring different driving capacities but with intelligent planning and battery recharging these can easily be overcome, particularly to meet the demands of urban operations.
The sector is seeing investment across manufacturers who are developing cleaner, greener vehicles that continue to deliver outstanding performance.
In 2023, Volvo in partnership with Biffa launched an electric skip loader for waste management in the UK. Scania has recently pledged to launch at least one new electric vehicle a year.
