„We are not missing drivers – we are missing the right ones.“

Managers in transport companies, HR departments, and fleet management report that the challenge is not the number of applicants, but whether drivers are suitable and available for the respective assignments. According to EuroDrivers’ insights from discussions with professional drivers and companies, driver shortage is multi-faceted. It arises from regional and local bottlenecks, mismatches between driver qualifications, experience, and tour requirements, and pragmatic decisions by companies and drivers.

Local Transport: Suitable Drivers for Regional Assignments

In local transport (trucks up to 12–40 t), there are applicants, but not every driver meets the requirements of the assignments. Many professional drivers value a predictable daily schedule, but reality often differs:

• Fixed start times: Usually given, but buffer times and delays due to traffic or loading points require flexibility.
• High workload on route: Drivers often serve multiple unloading points, pick up new loads, and load or check vehicles independently.
• Physical and mental demands: Time pressure, tight scheduling, and changing tasks make local transport challenging.

The challenge is less about the number of applications, and more about matching qualifications, experience, and personal resilience to the requirements. Only then do stable long-term assignments arise.

Long-Distance Transport and Specialized Assignments

In long-distance and specialized transport for 40-ton trucks, additional factors play a role:

• Long tours and international assignments
• Vehicle maintenance and load securing
• Time pressure, resilience, and physical demands
• Special qualifications for tankers, silo transport, refrigerated and food distribution, automotive shuttle, heavy or construction material transport

Shortages mainly arise due to lack of experience and qualifications – not absolute applicant numbers.

Germany Compared to Other EU Countries

Shortages exist in all EU countries, regardless of funding programs or wage levels.

• Regional transport requirements: Language skills, documentation, and country-specific regulations mainly affect national, local, and regional transport.
• Cross-border transport: Additional requirements due to regulations in other EU countries.

Causes of Driver Shortage

• Quantitative factors: regional differences in applicant numbers
• Qualitative factors: match between driver qualification, experience, and tour requirements
• Structural factors: wage level, working conditions, image, appreciation, recruitment of young drivers
• Pragmatism of companies: price pressure, short planning horizons
• Driver preferences: tour model, proximity to home, vehicle quality – many drivers consciously choose assignments that fit their lifestyle and salary expectations.
• Additional effort: driving license costs, Code 95, training, exams, digital tachograph card

Forecasts & Future Outlook

• EU road freight volume is expected to continue increasing until 2035.
• More goods mean more tours and higher demand for professional drivers.
• Demographic change further intensifies shortages.
• Even with classical measures like wage increases or image campaigns, the demand for suitable drivers remains high.

Third-Country Drivers: EU-Intra Perspective

Third-country drivers currently contribute to relief, especially in international EU long-distance transport. However, legal frameworks differ across the 27 EU member states:

• First stay (work permit granted) in an EU country: Different national rules for mandatory exchange of third-country driving licenses after six months.
• Temporary exceptions for digital tachograph card: Some member states allow using third-country licenses for up to 185 days with a temporary card.
• Validity of EU driving license when moving residence within EU: Directive 2006/126/EC Art.11 No.6 allows each EU state to decide on recognition.
• Code 95: four-week basic qualification, costs between €1,200–3,300 depending on EU country.

Conclusion

Driver shortage in Germany and the EU cannot be explained solely by the absolute number of available professional drivers. Even if statistics show a gap between needed and available drivers, local and regional bottlenecks occur due to lack of experience, unsuitable qualifications, structural conditions, and legal requirements.

Germany: Reducing Bureaucracy

Accelerated basic qualification for professional drivers – including teaching and exam language – is being developed within professional and interministerial coordination. Aiming at practical and efficient qualification without compromising road safety.

Third-Country Nationals: Work and Residence Permits

For truck drivers from third countries, work and residence permits are issued for the specific member state only. Moving residence to another EU member state requires a new permit process.

Driving License Law: EU Rules and National Regulations

Besides residence regulations, both EU and national driving license laws of each member state are relevant, covering recognition of third-country driving licenses and requirements for license exchange.

Policy Objectives

The policy aims to balance accelerated qualification of professional drivers with maintaining high training and safety standards and fair EU competition conditions.