Truck driver shortage in logistics: reasons & solutions
The shortage of drivers has long been one of the biggest challenges facing the logistics industry. According to studies, there is a shortage of at least 70,000 truck drivers in Germany alone. And the trend is rising. Shippers and freight forwarders from industry and trade must take action.
Acute truck driver shortage inhibits growth potential in the logistics sector
The acute shortage of truck drivers is a significant barrier to the growth potential of the logistics sector. This bottleneck not only leads to rising costs and immense time pressure in an already volatile market, but also has far-reaching effects on the efficiency and capacity of road freight transport.
Gunnar Gburek, spokesman for Timocom, explains the precarious situation: “Transport prices should actually rise so that drivers can be paid more appropriately. But the competitive pressure hardly allows for this, which means that there is no hope of any great leaps in personnel costs and thus increases the recruitment worries”. Last year (2024), Timocom's transport barometer showed a consistently high demand for transportation. The marketplace for road freight transport thus provides an insight into the relationship between supply and demand for various routes on the European freight market.
Impending Supply Collapse Due to Skilled Worker Shortage in the Logistics Industry
High demand for cargo space is met with a low supply. The shortage of truck drivers exacerbates the problem. This skills shortage is a hindrance to future economic growth.
Dirk Engelhardt, Chairman of the Federal Association of Road Haulage, Logistics and Disposal (BGL), already warned in May 2023 during a hearing in the Bundestag about the consequences of the truck driver shortage. Not only supermarket chains could be affected by the shortage of truck drivers in the logistics industry. A similar trend is emerging for consumer goods such as clothing, textiles, furniture, or electrical products, which are almost always transported by truck drivers. In 2018, shortages of cargo space due to market constraints led to delivery delays. This situation has since worsened. It is expected to become even more severe in the coming years. The ongoing driver shortage remains an unsolved and pressing issue for the entire logistics industry.
Reasons for the Truck Driver Shortage in Logistics
Capacity bottlenecks in the workforce cost the German economy. According to a consortium study conducted by three renowned professors and 16 companies from the transport and logistics industry in 2023, these costs amount to ten billion euros annually. Based on various statistics, the study identifies a gap of at least 70,000 truck drivers and forecasts that the shortage will increase by another 20,000 truck drivers each year. The study identified 40 reasons for the widespread problem of the driver shortage.
Causes of Bottlenecks in Cargo Space and Workforce:
- The profession has a poor image. Truck drivers often criticize their reputation, pay, and the lack of appreciation.
- In the working environment, issues such as work-life balance, training costs, or company climate contribute to the increasing driver shortage.
- Working conditions are negatively impacted by issues such as interactions with people, high performance pressure, or lack of safety.
- In logistics chains, closely timed delivery requirements or inefficient cargo space utilization exacerbate the shortage.
- Infrastructure problems lead to traffic jams caused by construction sites, and drivers suffer from a severe lack of parking spaces.
- Fluctuating cargo space demand intensifies the shortage depending on economic development, seasons, or the general trend towards smaller shipment sizes.
- Capacity bottlenecks arise due to waiting times for new vehicles or higher costs for vehicles with alternative drives.
Alternative Transport Routes at Full Capacity
In October 2024, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport presented a comprehensive traffic forecast for 2040. It found that compared to 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic performance will increase by about a third – from 689 to 905 billion ton-kilometers. Rail freight traffic is expected to increase the most (+35 percent), while waterway transport declines. The truck remains the dominant mode of transport with an increase of 34 percent.
Due to the energy transition, there has been a sharp decline in bulk and energy goods such as coal, coke, mineral oil products, and ores, which were primarily transported by rail and waterways. However, these transport modes are also reaching their limits due to the shortage of personnel.
On many routes, rail or inland shipping is barely an alternative to truck transport. The sector continues to grow in many areas. According to the BMDV, this includes postal shipments (+86 percent), consolidated goods (+56 percent), and food and beverages (+30 percent). Therefore, logisticians in road freight transport continue to face challenges due to the driver shortage.
Opportunities & Solutions for the Truck Driver Shortage in the Logistics Industry
A specialist forum on the topic of motivation will show at transport logistic 2025 how the working environment for drivers can be improved. Research findings will summarize concrete measures aimed at reducing turnover, increasing motivation, and making the profession more attractive to young talent.
From June 2 to 5, 2025, the logistics industry will discuss how to turn the tide. The fair will provide a platform for the logistics sector to exchange potential solutions for the truck driver shortage and cargo space shortages. Numerous other forums within the extensive conference program will address these pressing issues. Visitors will have free access to lectures offering concrete solutions for overcoming these challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Skilled Worker Shortage in Logistics
How many truck drivers are missing in Germany?
In 2023, 70,000 positions remained unfilled in Germany alone. The trend is rising.
Why is there a truck driver shortage?
Working conditions, infrastructure issues, and the poor image of the profession, along with insufficient pay, are frequently cited reasons for the driver shortage.
What problems do truck drivers face?
High time pressure, irregular working hours, long periods away from home, physical strain, and a lack of parking spaces, rest areas, and sanitation facilities are some of the problems truck drivers face.
Is truck telematics an answer to the driver shortage?
No, but fully digitized transport chains provide timely information, which can improve driver deployment.
What are the consequences of the truck driver shortage?
Disrupted supply chains are the result. This leads to empty store shelves, halted production lines, and service providers having to improvise. The result is a weakened economy.
What does the end of conscription have to do with the truck driver shortage?
In 2011, general conscription was abolished, which also eliminated the already severely restricted opportunity since 2003 to obtain a truck driving license through the Bundeswehr.