The logistics industry is facing major challenges in 2024, with one of the most pressing being the shortage of truck drivers. According to one of Germany's largest transport unions, there is already a shortfall of more than 100,000 truckers in the German haulage sector. Can wages help attract more people to the profession?
The recruitment platform Jobmatch.de has presented data on earnings within the industry, analysing more than 6,000 job offers for truck driver positions. Based on this analysis, statistics were used to calculate the average salary offered by German haulage companies in the third quarter of this year.
The average wage for a truck driver during this period was €3,281. In comparison, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office, the average wage in the ‘transport and storage’ industry is €3,571 (approx. £2,976.73). This suggests that employees in other areas of logistics may earn slightly more than truck drivers, the recruitment platform explains.
Jobmatch.de also provides a breakdown of truck driver salaries by federal state. The best-paying regions are Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Baden-Württemberg. On the other end of the spectrum are the eastern German states: Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Saxony, where wages tend to be the lowest.
“This pay gap clearly shows that fair and competitive pay alone is not enough to retain truck drivers in the long term. In addition to adequate remuneration, recognition, good working conditions, and opportunities for further training play a key role in boosting motivation and ensuring job satisfaction,” the platform comments.
