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Due to the separation of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the shortage of truck drivers has become increasingly serious, and the lack of drivers led the government to allow professionals from other countries to fill the job vacancies.
Europe has been suffering from a huge shortage of truck drivers, which affects the supply of various products. The concern about the impacts of this shortage of drivers is growing as winter approaches on the continent. A survey conducted in August shows that Europe needs about 400,000 truck drivers to meet its needs. In the United Kingdom alone, there are over 100,000 job vacancies for truck drivers available.
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Job Vacancies for Truck Drivers Abound in Europe
The labor shortage has increased the value of professionals in Europe, raising their salaries. To give you an idea of their valuation, a financial analyst currently earns about £46,000 per year, which is just over R$351,000 in direct conversion.
Truck drivers can earn around £53,000 annually, equivalent to R$404,000 in direct conversion. This is the exact amount offered by the supermarket chain Waitrose, which is offering job vacancies for professionals in the field.
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The new era of civil construction features “dry construction” and boosts a company that accelerates expansion with 48 stores and steel frame.
To alleviate the impacts of this shortage, 200 British Army drivers are already working in the transportation of products, but much more is needed to meet the demand.
How to Be a Truck Driver Abroad?
There are two ways to be a truck driver abroad:
Self-Employed: To enter as self-employed and practice a profession, obtaining the EB2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) visa is necessary, which is specific for working in other countries. The NIW is a provision in the legislation that allows certain types of work visas, where the supply of jobs is greater than the supply of labor, to be approved by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) without going through the DOL (Department of Labor).
The cost of expenses varies, as it depends on the number of family members of the truck driver who will immigrate; visa costs can range from US$15,000 to US$20,000 (around R$80,000, at current conversion), and the estimated time can take up to a year and a half (18 months). A spouse and children under 21 years old are included in the same process as the father. The EB-2 visa is a Green Card, meaning that the truck driver who receives this visa will become a permanent resident in the U.S., enjoying nearly all the benefits of an American citizen.
Work Contract: Through this method, there are no costs for the worker if the Employer/Sponsor (Company that will employ the driver) is willing to bear the expenses of the process. The wait time for obtaining the immigration authorization is somewhat shorter. Through a prior work contract with a carrier in the country, meaning when the company calls a foreign driver to work, the professional will need an H2B visa. The costs for obtaining this document vary from US$10,000 to US$18,000 and are the sole responsibility of the hiring company.
British Government Accepts Drivers from Other Countries
It is always seen that there is a lot of bureaucracy to enter some countries, especially in Europe, which has worsened with the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. This has caused the visa process for truck drivers from outside Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and England to face even more hold-ups.
On the other hand, the British government has authorized the issuance of temporary visas, creating job vacancies for over 5,000 drivers. The professionals will have salaries around R$32,000 per month and will be able to work in the United Kingdom for three months.
It is worth noting that it is necessary to have a truck driving permit in Europe, and it is also important to remember that the steering wheel there is on the right side, the opposite of what we are used to here in Brazil.
U.S. Also Suffers from Driver Shortage
In addition to Europe, the U.S. is also suffering from a shortage of truck drivers due to the pandemic, some professionals leaving the sector, and a more rigorous testing system that has resulted in the dismissal of over 60,000 professionals in the country.
Some North American carriers are already pleading with the government to ease the rules and expedite visa approvals to offer job vacancies for foreign truck drivers, helping to alleviate the strain on supply chains. The Petroleum Marketing Group has only 26 of the 74 drivers it needs to operate.
According to Andre LeBlanc, vice president of operations, the company is trying to recruit professionals but cannot find anyone interested. One wholesaler has even organized an event to attract people at a state convention center, but only two showed up.
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