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The situation in the German road freight transport sector is tense. According to a current initiative by associations, Germany is already short of more than 70,000 professional drivers. This number has significantly increased since the publication of a „Five-Point Plan Against Logistics Bottlenecks and Driver Shortages“ at the end of 2018, when it was estimated that around 40,000 drivers were missing. The demographic development contributes to the worsening of the problem: one third of professional drivers are over 55 years old, and approximately 30,000 to 35,000 drivers retire each year, while only 15,000 to 20,000 new drivers enter the profession.
Over 70 percent of the German freight transport performance is provided by trucks, according to the involved associations. Bottlenecks in this area could therefore have far-reaching consequences for the entire economy. Shifting transport to rail is often not possible due to local conditions, such as short transport distances and inadequate rail infrastructure, which frequently argue against rail transport.
Need for Action to Secure the Driver Labor Market
To address the driver shortage, the initiative calls for a politically coordinated approach. A central proposal is the establishment of an interministerial working group that should develop a strategy for the driver labor market, involving the relevant departments.
Three essential areas of action are highlighted by the associations:
1. Increase the attractiveness of the driving profession: Working conditions for professional drivers must be improved. Insufficient infrastructure, such as a lack of truck parking spaces and inadequate quality of stay at parking lots, complicates daily work. Additionally, inefficient construction site management on highways leads to traffic jams and unreliable working hours.
2. Modernization of training and qualification requirements: The current driver training is considered outdated. A reform is necessary to make the training more practical and targeted. Digital opportunities should also be better utilized.
3. Reduction of bureaucracy and facilitation of immigration: The high degree of regulation in road freight transport is perceived as a hindrance. More pragmatic rules need to be found, particularly regarding the recognition of foreign professional qualifications. Furthermore, the immigration of workers from third countries into the driver market should be facilitated.
