La shortage of professional truck drivers continues to be one of the main bottlenecks for the road freight transport in Europe. According to Global Truck Driver Shortage Report 2024 of the IRU, the number of vacancies has risen to 426.000 gastro stands, compared to 233.000 reported in 2023.

This figure reveals growing pressure on a sector that is essential to the European economy and supply. The combination of growing demand, unattractive working conditions y lack of generational change threatens to jeopardize the operational sustainability of road transport.

Measures to reverse the trend

Faced with this situation, the European institutions are taking various measures to expand access to the profession:

• La minimum age to drive professional trucks will be unified to the 18 years in the Making, allowing training from the age of 17.
• It will be facilitated employment of third-country nationals, thus expanding access to skilled foreign labor.

However, these reforms must be accompanied by improvements in the Labor conditions, if you want to attract and retain talent in the sector. Currently, the labor costs have experienced significant increases in countries such as Greece, Bulgaria and Hungary, making the operation even more expensive.

European initiatives to promote mobility

The IRU, in collaboration with international institutions, is working on initiatives such as:

• SDM4EU: connects countries with a surplus of drivers with those with a shortage.
• STEER2EU: It analyzes access routes to employment for non-EU drivers, including certification of qualifications and visas.

The IRU also collaborates with the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) to promote better working conditions and fair standards across the continent.

Towards a more attractive and professionalized sector

During his speech at ALACAT 2025 in Madrid, Lucas Lagier (IRU) highlighted the need to professionalize the sector through:

• Standardized and certified training at European level.
• Better opportunities for professional development.
• Active recruitment of young people and women to rejuvenate the collective.

Governments and operators have also launched programs to subsidize licenses and training, as well as to increase training capacity in specialized centers.

What to expect in 2025?

With a pilot plant expected increase in transport demand By 2025, the situation could worsen if the profession is not made more attractive or the productivity of the logistics system is not improved.

In this context, key directives such as the EU Weights and Dimensions Directive, which will allow:

• Cross-border transit of longer and heavier vehicles.
• Recognition of additional weight in zero-emission trucks.
• Improvement in vehicle aerodynamics.

However, doubts remain about the axle load limits, which could restrict the payload of electric or hydrogen trucks.

A necessary transformation

The sector needs a profound structural change to address a shortage that is already affecting the efficiency of freight transport. Improving conditions, attracting talent, and modernizing regulations are essential steps to ensure the future of the sector.