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The world is facing a silent road collapse: Millions of truck drivers are disappearing from the roads and no one seems ready to replace them. The future of global logistics and supply may be hanging by a thread — and few have noticed.
The road transport sector is facing one of the worst crises in its history: the global shortage of truck drivers has already exceeded 3,6 million unfilled vacancies.
According to Trucker's Blog, the alarming data was released in the most recent report by the World Transport Organization (IRU), which points to a continuous worsening of the situation and warns of economic risks if concrete measures are not taken urgently.
The shortage of professionals directly affects logistics and supply in countries in Europe, America, Asia and Oceania, according to the IRU.
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The research, which evaluated carriers of different sizes, revealed that around 70% of companies face significant difficulties in hiring new drivers.
Brazil, although not yet included in the entity's official statistics, is not immune to the problem.
Youth away from the steering wheel
The aging workforce and the disinterest of young people in the profession are the backbone of the crisis.
According to the survey, approximately 32% of truck drivers are over 55 and close to retirement, While young people under 25 years of age represent only 6,5% of the category.
In countries like Germany and Italy, this number drops to a worrying 2,5%.
This generational gap creates an alarming scenario: by 2029, another 3,4 million drivers are expected to retire, which could lead the sector to collapse if there is no significant renewal of professionals.
“The truck driver shortage crisis continues to worsen, with what is most alarming: a widening gap between young and older drivers”, warned Umberto de Pretto, IRU Secretary General.
“Without concrete and continued action, this demographic time bomb will explode, seriously impacting economic growth and competitiveness worldwide”, completed.
It's not just the salary that keeps truck drivers away
Although it is common to imagine that low wages are at the heart of the problem, remuneration is not the main factor for dismissal of the profession, according to the report.
The IRU found that truck driver wages in many regions range from 30% to 135% above the local average cost of living.
We also pack any 81% of drivers interviewed said they were satisfied with their work, especially the younger ones.
Professionals under 25 years old, despite being few, were those who reported greater satisfaction with their routine on the roads, according to the study.
What really weighs on the decision not to enter the profession are the poor structural conditions faced on the roads.
The lack of adequate rest stops, safe places to rest and eat, and basic infrastructure on long journeys discourages new entrants.
Institutional and social barriers
Another critical factor highlighted by the IRU is the difficulty of accessing the profession, especially for young people..
In many countries, there are strict age restrictions for driver training and qualifications, besides a low integration of the transport career in educational systems.
"There is no magic solution to solve the crisis, but this report points out important ways to reduce the age gap between professionals and make the profession more attractive.“, highlighted De Pretto.
“It is necessary to integrate drivers’ careers into education systems, make age limits more flexible and invest in well-equipped support areas on highways”, he concluded.
The impact on the global economy
The shortage of truck drivers directly compromises logistics chains in various sectors, from food to industrial products and fuels.
Without professionals to transport goods, costs increase, deadlines are extended and global competitiveness suffers.
The IRU report, which is over 150 pages long, provides a comprehensive overview of the sector.
Topics covered include the age and gender distribution of drivers, company size, type of operation (international or national), and the length of routes covered..
Furthermore, the study presents economic outlook for road transport operatorsas well as proposals to increase the attractiveness and accessibility of the profession.
Among the suggested solutions are career development campaigns, youth incentive programs, and government-business partnerships to improve road conditions.
Initiatives already underway for the return of truck drivers
Some countries have already started taking measures.
In France, for example, the government launched a national program to encourage the training of new drivers, with subsidized courses and a reduction in the minimum age to obtain a professional driver's license..
In the United States, similar initiatives have been adopted in states such as Texas and California.
In Japan, where population aging is even more pronounced, logistics companies are betting on autonomous technologies and electric vehicles to mitigate the labor shortage, although experts warn that these solutions will still take time to become viable on a large scale.
Brazil going against the grain?
Despite not being included in the IRU survey, Brazil faces a similar scenario.
According to National Transport Confederation (CNT), the country already has a shortage of truck drivers, especially for long routes and dangerous cargo.
We also pack any the precariousness of Brazilian roads and the lack of safety are highlighted as factors that drive away new professionals.
The high cost of obtaining a professional license (category E), which can exceed R$10, is also a considerable obstacle for low-income young people., which makes it even more difficult to renew the fleet of workers.
A future at a crossroads
The truckers' crisis is more than a sectoral concern: it is a strategic issue for the future of mobility and global supply.
Without trained professionals, there is no efficient transportation, and without transportation, entire production chains collapse.
If urgent measures are not taken, the world could face a large-scale supply crisis, compromising everything from access to food to the delivery of medicines and fuel.
Do you believe that technology will really be able to replace the human factor on the roads or is this still a long way from reality? Leave your opinion in the comments!
