A global crisis
The shortage of bus, coach and truck drivers is a chronic crisis facing the road transport sector across the globe: over 50% of operators have significant difficulties hiring skilled drivers.
Structural demographic trends are increasingly concerning, especially the widening gap between younger and older drivers.
Without concerted action, the shortage of drivers could seriously undermine the movement of people and goods at national and global levels.
Truck driver shortage
The shortage of truck drivers is a long-term structural issue.
More than 3.6 million truck driver positions are unfilled globally.
Trucking companies are facing severe difficulties recruiting drivers, including young people and women.
Drivers under 25 years old make up just 6.5% of the total driver workforce. In contrast, nearly a third of drivers are over 55 years old.
In all countries, women represent less than 7% of truck drivers.
Over the next five years, over 3.4 million truck drivers are projected to retire.
Bus and coach driver shortage
Bus and coach driver shortages are growing.
From just 2022 to 2023, the number of unfilled bus and coach driver positions increased by 54% in Europe.
The profession also has an ageing population: less than 3% of bus and coach drivers in Europe are below 25 years old, while more than 40% are over 55.
Additionally, only 16% of bus and coach drivers are women in Europe, below both the overall transport industry (22%) and working population (46%) average.
Without significant action, Europe could have more than 275,000 unfilled bus and coach driver positions by 2028.
The solutions
Action is needed to make the profession more accessible and more attractive, particularly for young people and women.
The accessibility of the profession can be improved by:
- Lowering the cost of obtaining a driving licence and the required professional qualification
- Reducing the school-to-wheel gap, as the minimum age to become a professional driver is still over 18 in many places
The attractiveness of the profession can be improved by:
- Building more safe, secure and equipped parking and rest areas
- Ameliorating the treatment of drivers at delivery sites and depots
- Enhancing the profession¡¯s image and career potential, especially to students
- Reducing long waiting times at borders
STEER2EU project
The STEER2EU study, which ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵcarried out for the European Commission, highlights recruitment challenges and best practices across the EU.
It investigated differences in the training and skills of third-country drivers compared to EU standards and identified best practices for integrating third-country drivers into the EU job market
SDM4EU project
IRU, together with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and the Migration Partnership Facility, conducted the Skilled Driver Mobility for Europe (SDM4EU) project.
SDM4EU comprehensively mapped the countries of origin and destination of professional drivers.
It also developed a skilled driver employment framework and is supporting the mobility of drivers from countries with a surplus to those facing a shortage.
Driver shortage
A global crisis
The shortage of bus, coach and truck drivers is a chronic crisis facing the road transport sector across the globe: over 50% of operators have significant difficulties hiring skilled drivers.
Structural demographic trends are increasingly concerning, especially the widening gap between younger and older drivers.
Without concerted action, the shortage of drivers could seriously undermine the movement of people and goods at national and global levels.
Truck driver shortage
The shortage of truck drivers is a long-term structural issue.
More than 3.6 million truck driver positions are unfilled globally.
Trucking companies are facing severe difficulties recruiting drivers, including young people and women.
Drivers under 25 years old make up just 6.5% of the total driver workforce. In contrast, nearly a third of drivers are over 55 years old.
In all countries, women represent less than 7% of truck drivers.
Over the next five years, over 3.4 million truck drivers are projected to retire.
Bus and coach driver shortage
Bus and coach driver shortages are growing.
From just 2022 to 2023, the number of unfilled bus and coach driver positions increased by 54% in Europe.
The profession also has an ageing population: less than 3% of bus and coach drivers in Europe are below 25 years old, while more than 40% are over 55.
Additionally, only 16% of bus and coach drivers are women in Europe, below both the overall transport industry (22%) and working population (46%) average.
Without significant action, Europe could have more than 275,000 unfilled bus and coach driver positions by 2028.
The solutions
Action is needed to make the profession more accessible and more attractive, particularly for young people and women.
The accessibility of the profession can be improved by:
The attractiveness of the profession can be improved by:
STEER2EU project
The STEER2EU study, which ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵcarried out for the European Commission, highlights recruitment challenges and best practices across the EU.
It investigated differences in the training and skills of third-country drivers compared to EU standards and identified best practices for integrating third-country drivers into the EU job market
SDM4EU project
IRU, together with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and the Migration Partnership Facility, conducted the Skilled Driver Mobility for Europe (SDM4EU) project.
SDM4EU comprehensively mapped the countries of origin and destination of professional drivers.
It also developed a skilled driver employment framework and is supporting the mobility of drivers from countries with a surplus to those facing a shortage.
Related links
Driver shortage reports
Explore our latest publications about the issue.