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Sharp Decline In The Qualification Of Truck Drivers And Aging Of The Category May Compromise Cargo Transport, Which Accounts For 65% Of Logistics In Brazil, According To Folha De S. Paulo
Brazil is facing a silent crisis in the transport sector: the number of qualified truck drivers fell by 62.89% in the last decade, according to Senatran. This data reinforces a warning that is already echoing among companies and unions, which talk about the risk of a logistical blackout in the coming years.
With trucks parked and contracts lost due to a lack of professionals, concerns are growing about how the country, highly dependent on road transport, will ensure the flow of cargo amid the aging of the category and the low entry of new workers.
Aged Category Without Renewal
One of the most critical points is the average age of truck drivers, currently at 46 years. A survey by CNTA shows that 28% are between 46 and 55 years old and 23% have already surpassed 56.
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The profession has stopped attracting young people, who were previously encouraged by family tradition. Today, many parents discourage their children from taking the wheel, preferring to invest in academic education.
The lack of renewal generates a ripple effect in the sector.
“There are trucks parked due to a lack of drivers. Companies have the equipment but not the drivers, and contracts end up being lost,” says Delmar Albarello from Setcergs.
Why The Profession Lost Appeal
Rejection of the career is linked to factors such as poor infrastructure on roads, insecurity, low freight value, and long hours away from home.
According to Folha De S. Paulo, even with the Minimum Freight Law, created after the 2018 strike, 35% of drivers say the rule is “never respected” and another 33% say it is “rarely fulfilled.”
In addition, recent court decisions have made the routine more rigid.
In 2023, the STF overturned the splitting of the mandatory 11 hours of rest, which, according to industry representatives, hinders the lives of freelancers and increases pressure on long-distance transport.
Insufficient Infrastructure On Highways
Another barrier is the lack of appropriate places for rest and safety.
CNTA points out that there are only eight specific stopping points for truck drivers, all managed by concessionaires.
Although there are 176 gas stations certified as PPDs, drivers report issues such as fees for parking and the risk of robberies.
The precariousness pushes many workers towards urban alternatives.
Driving for apps requires less investment and allows them to stay close to family, unlike the long routes of up to 3,000 kilometers common in Brazil.
The Weight Of Road Transport In The Economy
According to CNT, 65% of cargo in the country travels by highways. This dependence makes Brazil extremely vulnerable to the lack of drivers.
“It won’t be an immediate blackout, but the scarcity is already slowing economic growth and threatening logistical efficiency,” analyzes Maurício Lima from ILOS.
Companies are starting to seek internal solutions, encouraging employees to obtain category C licenses and covering part of the costs, which currently amount to around R$ 4,900.
The inclusion of women is also seen as an alternative: they represent only 1% of truck drivers, but there are initiatives to increase this participation.
Transformations In The Hiring Model
Traditionally dominated by freelancers with their own trucks, the sector may undergo changes.
The trend, according to experts, is that companies will start to hire drivers directly, investing in assets and training to reduce dependence on subcontractors. This changes the labor dynamic and requires new management strategies.
Cases like that of Tiago Santos de Souza, 37, show a possible path.
Encouraged by Ativa Logística, he left administrative functions to become a truck driver with the company’s support.
“Today I travel and the next day I’m home, I don’t spend weeks away like my uncle used to,” he says, excited about the profession.
The future of road transport in Brazil depends on the ability to renew the category and make the profession more appealing.
Without truck drivers, there’s no harvest that reaches the port or goods that reach the shelves.
Do you believe the country is facing a real risk of logistical blackout? Does the profession need more incentives or a complete transformation? Leave your opinion in the comments — we want to hear from those who live this reality on the roads and those who depend on it in their daily lives.
Salário ridículo, pressão alta, cobrança,horários apertado, carga horária mais de 12 dia até 20 horas dependendo,sem apoio em postos,radares e multas, tudo simplesmente horrível, tem que valorizar o mais rápido possível ou perde, simples assim
Já fui convidado a ser motorista de caminhão mas o que me i.pediu de aceitar é a baixa remuneração ganha se mais fazendo frete com uma carretinha dentro da cidade e aí dá nao tem patrão enchendo o saco trabalha se a hora que der
Querem que o motorista abandone a família por muito tempo, mas não pagam um salário digno e colocam gestores iguinorantes, que além de não conhecer nada sobre transportes e condições de rodovias, acham que podem tratar motorista que nem ****, tem que fechar as portas mesmo
É bem isso mesmo. É muita coisa que impede de ser motorista eu já estou aposentado e estou parando 😕 tem que melhorar muito para os caminhoneiros principalmente salários e segurança é lugar dignos e segurança no repouso.