© Zarbour
Written by Charlotte Goldstone 11/21/2023
There are three million vacancies for truck drivers worldwide – but that number is expected to double by 2028, according to the International Road Transport Union (IRU).
The association released a study yesterday, after surveying 4,700 trucking companies across 36 countries in the Americas, Asia and Europe, which found that 7% of truck driver jobs in these regions are unfilled.
Last month, A Similar study to IRU He concluded that there are 2.8 million job vacancies for truck drivers around the worldThe trend is expected to continue. The union says vacancies for truck drivers will double in the next five years unless there are “significant measures” to attract and retain drivers.
It expects there to be more than 7 million job vacancies by 2028 – with 20% of truck driver positions unfilled in China, 17% in Europe, and 28% in Turkey. This is largely due to age, particularly in Europe where less than 5% of drivers are under 25 years of age.
The study cited the gap between “school and wheels” as a major challenge facing the industry and that the minimum driving age for international freight transport still ranges between 21 and 26 years in some countries.
The high costs of training, licensing and insurance also make it expensive to become a truck driver, which can be a turnoff for young people. In France, for example, the average cost of obtaining a truck driving license and a certificate of professional competence is more than three times the monthly minimum wage, i.e. 5,250 euros ($5,745).
The International Road Transport Union (IRU) says governments need to make truck driving more accessible by lowering the minimum driving age and subsidizing qualification costs. Secretary-General Umberto de Brito said: “With the rate of new arrivals significantly lower than the drivers retiring each year, urgent action is needed now.
“We cannot allow the driver shortage to get worse. Operators are doing their part, but governments and authorities need to step up efforts to improve working conditions and access to the profession.
The IRU found that at least 50% of road transport operators reported serious problems recruiting skilled drivers, meaning they are unable to expand their business and are losing customers and revenue.
“The consequences of such shortages are already damaging the communities, supply chains and economies that depend on our industry,” Mr Umberto said.
The IRU proposed “facilitating access to the profession for qualified drivers from third countries, allowing countries with a surplus of professional drivers to help fill the gaps where needed.”
