Europe faces a shortage of 400,000 truckers that companies fail to recruit

Europe faces a shortage of 400,000 truckers and transport companies they have difficulty recruiting due to the low wages they offer and difficult working conditions.

The shortage was felt from before the pandemic, but was exacerbated by the post-pandemic economic rebound, especially in the UK where, combined with the effects of Brexit, it triggered a fueling crisis.

But all countries are affected: Poland has a deficit of more than 120,000 truckers, Germany of about 60,000 and Spain of 15,000, according to a study by the British consultancy Transport Intelligence (TI).

“The reasons are multiple. The population of drivers has aged, young people are not attracted to the trade, working conditions are not good, wages are low, ”explained Violeta Keckarovska, who produced the TI study.

In certain countries, the end of compulsory military service deprived companies in the sector of trained drivers.

At the large Solutrans logistics hall, which opened near Lyon on Tuesday, various training institutes are trying to attract candidates by having them drive a large truck in a simulator.

“It is a profession of enormous responsibilities” that has evolved a lot in recent years. It is not necessarily simpler, but much less mechanical and physical, and with more electronic assistance ”, and drivers travel shorter distances than before,” said Régis Garcia, from the Aftral training center.

Technological innovation may also change the situation: the Dyn’Acces company succeeded in Solutrans with a telescopic platform that allows a driver in a wheelchair to sit behind the wheel of a large truck.

Better remunerations

In France, companies have a shortage of between 40,000 and 50,000 drivers, twice more than in 2017, lamented the National Federation of Road Transport, which has multiplied its communication efforts.

In the Rhône-Alpes region, drivers are among the five most in-demand occupations. The French agency Pole Emploi is searching the area for 6,000 long-distance drivers and 3,000 short-distance drivers.

“We tell companies that they should reflect on their brand, on well-being at work, that bonuses and tutoring are required. Knowing how to recruit is also knowing how to take care of their salaries, “said Marina Verbaere-Grobel, from Pole Emploi.

The search includes young people, salaried workers in reconversion and the unemployed. Women, who make up a tiny part of drivers, are also “highly sought after.”

The training costs between 4,500 and 7,000 euros (US $ 5,400 to US $ 8,400), sometimes paid for by the employer or by public aid. The apprenticeship has developed a lot, and the large truck license can be accessed from the age of 21.

Certain young people are attracted and seek the license. “You don’t have your boss by your side and I prefer to walk outside than in the city center,” said Pierre Nguembou, 29, a former Toulouse delivery man.

The future driver has the extra hours to improve his income.

A part of the solution is currently decided between the carriers and the unions.

In their negotiations, the representatives of the employees demand measures to improve the health and well-being of the truckers and a revaluation of 10% of the salaries, starting with the minimum wage.

Employers’ organizations were in favor of an increase from 3.5% to 4.5%, according to the CFTC union. The CGT and CGT-FO unions withdrew from the negotiating table and could plan mobilizations before Christmas.

“The pyramid of ages is very, very strong in transportation. We are going to have difficulties, as has been seen with Brexit ”, warned Thierry Douine, from the CFTC.

“We ask for a balance between professional and private life. Nobody wants to work every weekend, every night, every vacation. We want rotations so that people have quality of life at work, ”said Douine.