![]() “It’s encouraging to see how seriously the sector is pursuing solutions to driver shortages, as well as the support from European parliamentarians and EU authorities. A truly wasted opportunity given the 14.5% youth unemployment rate." Speaking at the event, Raluca Marian, IRU’s Director of EU Advocacy, said, “The EU will have around 500,000 vacant driver positions by the end of the year. In particular, the focus was on how to remove barriers to entry for young people, improve working conditions, and mobilise automation as an opportunity to enhance the industry’s image. In October, IRU’s EU Dinner Dialogue in the European Parliament brought together the road transport sector and public authorities to explore solutions to driver shortages. Attracting young drivers: EU dinner debate zeroes in on solutions The report, based on a comprehensive survey of 744 road transport operators across 15 European countries, includes post-COVID economic indicators for the sector, detailed figures on demographic and gender dynamics, and the main causes behind the shortages. With the support of IRU members, the briefings also offer a contextual analysis of the results and an overview of the challenges and solutions in each country.Ī few weeks later, IRU also released its detailed European report on commercial driver shortages. Driver shortage reports by countryįollowing the release of the global report, IRU made 22 member-exclusive reports available on its Intelligence Platform in August, providing data-based analysis on driver shortages in 19 countries.Įach report includes overall indicators on driver shortages and a breakdown of three demographic trends: age distribution, gender representation and the share of foreign drivers. Drivers over 55 constitute 32% of the workforce, with an average driver age of 50. In Europe, only 3% of bus and coach drivers are under 25, half the rate of the overall transport sector. The widening age gap is more serious for passenger transport. Europe has the highest average driver age at 47. In the US and Europe, older drivers make up around one third of the workforce. On the other hand, there are between two and five times more older drivers over 55 in all regions, except in China and Mexico. Young drivers under 25 remain a small minority, at 6 or 7% of the truck driver population, in most regions. However, these rates are all still well below transport sector norms, especially in Europe (with the notable exception of the Netherlands) and the US, respectively, where 22% and 28% of all transport workers are women. The rate of female bus and coach drivers in Europe is better at 12%. Less than 3% of truck drivers are women in all regions, with notable exceptions in China (5%) and the US (8%). The report showed that women are still not in the driving seat. “Road transport operators are doing their part, but governments and authorities need to maintain focus, especially to improve parking infrastructure, training access, and encourage more women and young people into the profession,” added Umberto de Pretto. This is putting already stressed economies and communities at higher risk of inflation, social mobility issues and supply chain meltdowns.” In Mexico, shortages rose by 30% to reach 54,000, while in China, they increased by 140%, reaching 1.8 million.Ĭommenting on the report’s findings, IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto said, “Chronic commercial driver shortages are getting worse, with millions of positions remaining unfilled. ![]() In Europe, driver shortages jumped by 42% from 2020 to 2021, with vacant driver positions reaching 71,000 in Romania, 80,000 in both Poland and Germany, and 100,000 in the UK. ![]() In June 2022, after surveying more than 1,500 commercial road transport operators in 25 countries across the Americas, Asia and Europe, IRU released its 2022 Global Driver Shortage Report, which found that the sector is missing over 2.6 million professional drivers. This article offers an overview of IRU’s efforts to analyse the situation, raise awareness and advance solutions.įor several years now, IRU has been publishing its global report on driver shortages. In 2022, IRU, backed with on-the-ground information from its members, continued to report and analyse global driver shortages: a chronic issue threatening the stability and continuity of mobility and supply chains.
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