EU driver shortage could hit 1 million as retirement rate outpaces recruitment

The IRU reports that the EU grapples with a severe and escalating shortage of professional commercial drivers. The EU is short of half a million drivers and could surpass 1 million drivers within the next three to five years.

Today, the average age of truck drivers is around 50. More than a third are aged 55 or older, while less than 5% of drivers are under 25 years old. The profession is witnessing an extensive number of retirements which far surpasses the numbers replacing them. The shortage of commercial drivers poses a challenge not only to the EU road transport sector but to the wider EU economy. The sustainability and growth of this vital sector are at stake.

The European Commission recognises that the wider negative impact on logistics cannot be underestimated, and therefore there’s a pressing need for strategic intervention to attract new talent to ensure the continued functioning of essential transport services.

From this context, the Commission has published an extensive study into the legal managed migration of professional truck drivers from third countries.

It’s collected information on the procedures and requirements that third country drivers encounter in EU member states when employed by EU operators and looks into the skill sets and certification that third country drivers are expected to have and compare them with the EU’s minimum requirements.

The lack of a single centralised platform for third country results in a varied, fractured and inconsistent approach by member states. The report summarises the current framework as cumbersome, bureaucratic, slow and expensive, and a barrier to employers and employees alike. Visas, work permits, residence permits, valid driving licences and recognised (by EU) driver CPCs looked at are all required before they can start working in the EU.

The study looked at 23 third countries including the Philippines, Morocco, South Africa and Uzbekistan and interestingly only Switzerland and the UK stand out as being closely aligned to the EU requirements. However, the report goes on to state that UK CPC qualified drivers do not have sufficient knowledge of the regulations in the EU. Some EU states have included professional truck drivers in their established national lists of shortage professions which allows some simpler and faster entry and recruitment procedures.