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Nov 20 2023

Global truck driver shortage to double by 2028

IRU’s 2023 driver shortage report has found that over three million truck driver jobs are unfilled, or 7% of total positions, in 36 countries studied. With the huge gap between young and old drivers growing, it will get much worse over the next five years without significant action.

Surveying over 4,700 trucking companies in the Americas, Asia and Europe, representing 72% of global GDP, IRU has found that truck driver shortages increased globally in 2023.

 

Two exceptions were Europe and the United States where shortages eased slightly in 2023 due to softer transport demand as a result of inflation and tighter monetary policy limiting consumption and investment.

 

The shortage is forecast to get much worse in the coming years. Without action to attract and retain drivers, over 7 million truck driver positions could be unfilled by 2028 in the surveyed countries, including 4.9 million in China (20% of total positions), 745,000 in Europe (17% of total positions), and 200,000 in Türkiye (28% of total positions).

 

IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto said, “The structural issues behind truck driver shortages are continuing to impact transport services. With the rate of newcomers being significantly lower than drivers retiring every year, urgent action is needed now.

 

“We are missing over 3 million truck drivers in the countries we’ve examined. Given the demographics of the profession, we forecast that it could double within five years.

“The consequences of such a shortage are already harming the communities, supply chains and economies that depend on our industry.

“We cannot allow driver shortages to get any worse. Operators are doing their part, but governments and authorities need to increase efforts to improve working conditions and access to the profession.”

 

At least 50% of road transport operators have serious problems hiring skilled drivers, in most countries studied. Many are also unable to expand their business and are losing existing clients and revenues. Read more

 

Source: IRU