Up to 425,000 truck driver vacancies remained unfilled in Europe in 2021, IRU’s latest report on the European driver shortage has revealed. What’s more, the organisation forecasts the figure will jump by the end of this year.
According to the report’s findings, in 2021, demand exceeded supply in European economies. This had a strong effect on the entire supply chain and particularly on transportation.
Diesel costs have also risen sharply and so have become the main driver of transport costs increase for carriers.
“The (fuel costs) account for one third of the total operating transport costs, but given the increase, they may now account for 50% of the costs”, warns the study.
Wage increases due to soaring driver shortages were another key factor in the increase in the operating costs of hauliers.
Pay rises vary from country to country. As the study points out, while a 4.5%-7.2% increase is predicted in France in 2022, the country is not yet under pressure. In the UK, however, the landscape has already changed with some companies offering pay rises up to 15% to retain drivers.
Published by: Peter Maďoran.
