Lack of truck drivers

According to the new IRU 2024 report, 36 countries have a shortage of 3.6 million truck drivers. This is not just a numerical issue, but a real structural crisis that risks blocking the road haulage sector. The average age of drivers has risen to 44.5 years and, it is expected, that by 2029 over 3.4 million truck drivers will retire. In Italy, the problem is particularly acute: 45% of drivers are over 55 years old, while only 2.2% are under 25. Despite this, young truck drivers appear to be the most satisfied with their work, a sign that the real obstacle is not a lack of interest, but the difficulty of entering the sector. 70% of the companies interviewed highlighted problems in recruiting new staff, while 91% of drivers requested improvements in rest areas and more dignified conditions at loading and unloading points. The issue does not only concern wages, but also their quality.

Truck drivers speak openly of a “crisis of professional dignity” regarding working conditions and access to the profession. The problems are not only related to the salary but also to the growing pressure for unrealistic deliveries, the lack of recognition of external factors such as traffic, weather and customer delays, the lack of operational support and the exhausting conditions: long periods away from home, cramped cabins for the nights, lack of safe areas for rest.

One of the main obstacles concerns the costs of access to the profession: C, CE, CQC licenses, tachograph cards, ADR courses and refresher courses can exceed 7,000 euros, all paid by the worker. This represents a significant economic barrier, especially for young people, discouraging new entries into the sector.