The road transport industry’s recruitment crisis spares no region of the world. Whether in Asia, Europe or America, everyone is impacted. What's worse, each year the number of vacancies increases. Both Asia and Europe are seeing a 40% increase in vacancies between 2021 and 2022.
A sector that no longer attracts
One of the core problems linked to the global driver shortage is the lack of appeal within the sector. The profession is perceived negatively for several reasons, including:
- Difficult working conditions
- Low investment in aging/deteriorating infrastructure
- Less balance between personal and professional life
- A physically demanding daily life
For a younger generation, these conditions are less attractive and unrewarding. Only 7% of the current workforce is under 25 years old, leading to an aging driver population. The average age of truck drivers is 47, and many will retire in the coming years without replacement entrants.
Another roadblock to recruitment is that trucking has been a predominantly male occupation. Worldwide, only 3% of truck drivers are women, further limiting the available pool of workers.
Affected by global geopolitical events
Since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, transporters face an added setback: due to national mobilization, many Ukrainian drivers are not permitted to operate. On top of that, the majority of Russian and Belarusian drivers are prohibited from operating in the European Union, unless moving essential goods.
What’s more, the pandemic catalysed equipment deficits for road carriers. Covid-19 disrupted semi-conductor production, which is essential to manufacturing vehicles. In the past few years, the purchase price of new trucks has increased by 40%+ in Europe and the U.S. The situation is so dire that one- and two-year-old used vehicles are selling at the same price as trucks rolling off the production line.
With sharp increases in fuel prices, road transporters face more challenges, which may ultimately threaten smaller enterprises.
What are the consequences?
All of these factors have a direct impact on the movement of goods—even those shipped by air or sea. The pre-and post-carriage of cargo from the origin warehouse to the port/airport, travels by road. The driver shortage has led to a longer immobilization of goods and unprecedented congestion.
Solutions that prevent long transit times
When shipping by sea or air, let us manage your pre-and post-carriage freight. Our wide partner network allows us to offer the most suitable transport mode—whether by road, river or rail. You can be confident that your shipments arrive safely and on schedule.
We’re ready to answer your questions and find the best solutions to keep your supply chain operating as planned.
