The challenge posed by the driver shortage in the trucking industry is well known. Europe is facing a growing shortage of skilled drivers, and currently has only four-fifths of the truck drivers it needs to meet demand. With an ageing workforce and challenges in recruiting young and female drivers into the profession, the risks posed by the shortage are becoming increasingly alarming.
IRU spoke to Christian Kas Mortensen, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Girteka Logistics, to discuss how they are dealing with the problem.
Tell us a little about yourself, Gertica Logistics and your role in the company?
Girteka Logistics is a Lithuanian logistics company founded in 1996. We transport 460,000 fully loaded trucks every year and currently have a fleet of 6,000 trucks and 6,300 trailers.
I joined Gertica Logistics in early 2015 and have held several positions since then. As Director of Strategic Partnerships, I am now a member of our group’s Board of Directors and focus primarily on three things: business development, satisfying our largest customers, and acting as a spokesperson for Gertica Logistics.
It is well known that the industry is currently experiencing a shortage of drivers, how has this affected Girteka Logistics?
The fact is that the driver shortage is not a big problem for Gertika. Today we employ 13,000 drivers, and by the end of 2021 we will employ 20,000 drivers. And since our employee turnover rate is around 20% per year, this means that we are hiring at least 100 new drivers every week.
However, we are fully aware that driver shortages are a problem across the industry. Employee turnover in the ground transportation sector is high, with some companies today facing turnover levels of around 50%.
How does Gertica Logistics manage to retain and attract drivers, despite the shortage in the industry?
For us at Gertika, the key to success here has been investing in the well-being of our drivers, particularly through our Driver Well-being Academy. We have 30 full-time employees whose role is to educate drivers through the Academy, allowing us to focus on road safety and economical driving for our drivers.
We see great value in encouraging our drivers to drive more economically – not only does it help reduce accidents, it makes transportation more efficient if we can reduce fuel consumption by even just one litre per 100 kilometres. By encouraging drivers to think this way and not sending them into stressful situations, we take the pressure off them and improve their safety. This approach has certainly helped us attract and retain some of the best talent in the industry.
“By reducing the stress on drivers, we can improve their safety and quality of working life, making the profession more attractive to both inside and outside the industry.”
Do you think there are any regulatory changes that could impact the driver shortage?
I believe the EU Mobility Package could have a very positive impact on the driver shortage. By improving standards around rest time rules, safety infrastructure and access to the profession, the package has the potential to raise working life standards for drivers across the continent.
How can Gertica Logistics use technology to protect itself from driver shortages?
Simply put, technology can help address the driver shortage by making drivers’ lives easier. Last year, for example, we invested in a high-tech tablet for every truck and a paired smartphone in the hands of every driver. These devices allow drivers to access speed recorder and driver ID data online, reducing the time they spend on inspections.
Systems like Automated Route Planner have a similar effect. It’s an online navigation system that can access traffic data and show routes that allow for the size of truck being used. Then there are technologies that improve safety, like anti-collision braking.
Again, by reducing the stress on drivers, we can improve their safety and quality of working life, making the profession more attractive to both those inside and outside the industry.
Are there any other ways companies can reduce stress for drivers?
Again, the answer here really lies in using technology to help make drivers’ lives easier. For example, one challenge drivers routinely face is managing refrigerated cargo trays, which require specially programmed refrigeration units.
This is more challenging than you might think because the settings need to be very precise! At Girteka, we can now program the pre-cooling of the goods from our offices. This takes the pressure off the drivers and allows them to focus on what they need to do – monitor the traffic and drive safely.
Christian Kass Mortensen will speak at the IRU Logistics and Innovation Forum in London on 21 February 2020. The conference will be a unique opportunity for transport operators, service providers and national transport associations to share knowledge, network and discover new solutions on a topic of great importance to the industry: safety.
