A new report has been released into the world’s truck driver shortage, suggesting that the driver age gap globally is widening.
The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has released its 2024 Global Truck Driver Shortage Report, with the key takeaway being that the driver age gap is widening due to a lack of young drivers entering the profession.
The report says there’s not enough younger drivers entering the industry to cover the predicted 3.4 million drivers who will retire in the 36 countries studied by 2029.
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Australia is one of the countries most impacted, with 47 per cent of the nation’s drivers being over 55 years old, and 21 per cent expected to retire by 2029.
Described as “trucking’s ticking demographic timebomb”, the report says Australia already has almost 28,000 unfilled heavy vehicle driver positions.
“The report from 2024 reaffirms that the shortage of truck drivers is a long-term structural issue that persists in all regions,” IRU secretary general Umberto de Pretto says.
“Of 5,100 trucking firms surveyed in 2024, up to 70 per cent in some countries, face severe or very severe difficulties in recruiting drivers. Globally, the share of truck drivers who are over 55 is 31.6 per cent. Countries with very high percentages of older drivers include Spain at 50 per cent, Australia at 47 per cent, and Italy at 45 per cent.”
According to the report the number of unfilled truck driver jobs ranged from seven to 17 per cent of the total driver workforce, representing 3.6 million truck drivers across all countries involved in the study. The report says this is a chronic structural issue across the world for the trucking industry. Between 44 and 70 per cent of trucking operators say they are facing severe or very severe difficulties in getting drivers.
“This is a global problem, and the Australian government must demonstrate national leadership by addressing the local driver shortage and improving road safety,” NatRoad CEO Warren Clark says.
“We need a Road Freight Workforce Action Plan including a national Truck Driver Standard, licensing and training reform and a consistent truck driver apprenticeship across all states and territories.”
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