Freight transport in Spain threatened by the shortage of drivers |

2024-09-20 12:00:58

There is a deficit of 15,000 professionals to respond to the needs of companies

The transport of goods in Spain is at risk due to a shortage of drivers. So much so that the country has a shortage of 15,000 drivers which could generate serious logistical delays.

For that reason, the Spanish Transport Federation (CETM) demand from the government a training and employment plan aimed at attracting new drivers. In addition, they recommend reducing the costs of obtaining a CAP, as well as creating economic incentives for young people who want to enter this profession.

For their part, companies are also trying to deal with this problem and choose to increase salaries and also offer bonuses to attract new drivers, which increases logistics costs.

The importance of freight transport in Spain

The transport of goods is considered one of the fundamental pillars of the economy in Spain. However, in recent years, the driver shortage has emerged as a problem of concern. A worsening personnel shortage due to various reasons, including the aging of the workforce, low incorporation of young people into the sector and lack of recognition for the profession.

This problem has a direct impact on the functioning of freight transport, since, if there are not enough drivers, the products cannot be transported on time, which leads to delays in deliveries, a reduction in the quality of service and, end, therefore, potential loss of customers and profits for companies.

In addition, this situation also affects the competitiveness of Spanish companies in the international market, as contracts and clients may be lost as a result of delays in deliveries.

In 2023, 68% of Spain’s goods were transported by road, underscoring the vital importance of this sector to the economy. And, according to data from Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agendamore than 1.3 billion tonnes of goods are moved on the country’s roads each year. Any interruption in the flow of transport directly affects trade, industrial production and the export of goods.