1. 5th International IRU Academy Seminar on Driver Shortage
Figures for Discussion… Driver Employment, Migration of Drivers and Traffic Flows, Salaries, Public Perception, Driver Shortages
Amsterdam, 27 September 2007
Menno Menist
Managing Director, NEA, The Netherlands
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

2. Driver Shortages
World-wide shortage of (professional) drivers – quantity
World-wide shortage of qualified (professional) drivers – quality
Regional shortages of (professional) drivers (caused by driver migration)
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

3. Question
Is driver shortage more a problem in certain types of companies than in others?
Foreign owned versus domestic owned
Specialised transport versus general transport
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

4. Main cause for driver shortages
Change of the profession of driver in the last 20 years
From ‘steering the wheel’ from ‘A to B’ towards a responsible manager of an expensive vehicle and its load and an ambassador of its company
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

5. Quick Survey on Shortage of Professional Drivers
Quick Survey carried out by IRU / NEA based on questionnaire in August / September
Response from more than 15 countries:
Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland FYROM, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, UK
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

6. Results Survey 1
There is a structural shortage of professional drivers, in particular in international freight transport
The shortage varies in the different countries between 5-15% of the total number of active professional drivers
There is a strong need for qualified professional drivers
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

7. Question Is there one ton less transported because of the shortage?
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

8. Results Survey 2 Estimated shortages The Netherlands 5,000
Norway 4,500
Belgium 3,000
Lithuania 2,500
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

9. Shortages will increase…
Drivers will not be allowed to drive more than 48 hours per week when implementing the EU regulation on driving times and rest periods (Regulation (EC) 561/2006)
If they drive nowadays 53 hours per week on average these shortages will increase with much more than 10%...
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

10. Reasons for Driver Shortages
Results Survey 3
Reasons for Driver Shortages
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

11. Reasons for Driver Shortages
Results Survey 4
Reasons for Driver Shortages
Western Europe
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

12. Reasons for Driver Shortages
Results Survey 5
Reasons for Driver Shortages
Eastern Europe
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

13. Some proposed solutions 1
Improve the image of the road transport industry and professional drivers (Belgium, Germany)
Better matching supply and demand of professional drivers (Belgium)
Increase education capacity (Germany, Norway)
Government and road transport industry to prepare appropriate educational programmes (Poland)
Young driver schemes (UK)
Company sponsorship through higher education in exchange for holiday working (UK)
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

14. Some proposed solutions 2
Use occasional drivers (UK)
Higher salary (Germany, Norway)
Better organisation and planning of transport so that drivers can live a normal life (Norway)
Training Fund to be established by Social Partners (Hungary)
Financial aid to pay initial training (The Netherlands)
Promotion of Social Dialogue on this issue (Belarus)
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

15. Some proposed solutions 3
Facilitating contracting foreign drivers (Lithuania)
Train and bring more women to the profession of driver (Estonia)
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

16. Some proposed solutions 4
In Western Europe transport companies have hired drivers from other countries
For example in the Netherlands an increasing number of foreign drivers are working for Dutch companies. Those foreign drivers are recruited from former Eastern Europe countries but also from Germany
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

17. Some proposed solutions 5
“Zij-instroom” side influx
Older employees who are no longer employable in other professions can be trained to be a driver. For example in the Netherlands former postmen are being trained to be drivers
“Eigen rijders” own drivers
Own drivers can make more hours and kms. For the time being own drivers are not regulated through the 48-hour working time rule
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

18. Changes in profession Changes in the profession are related with:
Responsibilities to do with vehicle, cargo, public roads, clients
Control and checks
Administration
IT and communication
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

19. Professional Driver Responsibilities
Managing an expensive vehicle with hi-tech components
Be responsible for cargo and / or passengers
Contributing to more road safety
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

20. Professional Driver Controls and Checks
The driver controls / checks:
Right product
Right quantities
Right qualities
Right packing
Right place delivery
Right time delivery
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

21. Professional Driver Administration
Drivers have to administer forms, documents, licenses, permits, etc. related with:
him/herself
vehicle
cargo
others
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

22. Professional Driver Communication
Drivers have:
to operate on-board computers
to be able to make print-outs of data from the digital tachograph
to operate route planning systems
to know how to handle other forms of telecommunication
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

23. New legal requirements …
The change of the contents of the profession of a truck or bus / coach driver has resulted in new legal requirements:
Social legislation; working time directive; driving time and rest periods; analogue and digital tachograph
Extensive training requirements both for the driving license as well as for the Certificate of Professional Competence for Drivers
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

24. CPC for Drivers
Training requirements for the Certificate of Professional Competence for drivers are new for most EU countries (Council Directive 2003/59)
It previously only existed in France and The Netherlands
Cooperation between NEA and IRU Academy in the creation of an IRU Academy CPC Driver Programme
Pilot Institutes: i.e. ECOS (Bosnia & Herzegovina), FPT (Argentina), Trucknowledgy (India) & Westland Groep (The Netherlands)
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

25. How to address shortages?
Real profession needs real education leading to a real career
Training of youngsters in vocational training centres (public education; in co-operation with road transport industry)
Upgrade knowledge, skills and attitude of existing drivers (with support from labour offices)
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

26. Question Is this the future?
Less drivers  less quality of new drivers  less “sex appeal”  less new drivers ? ?
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

27. How to attract trainees?
How to guarantee that enough youngsters will choose the profession of driver?
Mix of salary; responsibility; social labour conditions; image improving by promotion
Integrate labour offices in this strategy!
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

28. Need for Social Dialogue
Public – Private Partners should work together !
Government: timely implementation of legislation
Road transport industry and employer’s organisations: qualified staff; remuneration
Transport Workers Federations and Trade Unions: labour agreement, work conditions
All SHOULD EDUCATE & INFORM !
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

29. Need for strategy …
Development of a Strategy for making the profession of driver attractive again by the Public – Private Partners
Government
Road transport industry (including IRU and its Academy)
Transport workers organisations (including ITF)
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007

30. 5th International IRU Academy Seminar on Driver Shortage
2007 IRU Academy Seminar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007