In recent years, both in Italy and internationally, there seems to be a shortage of qualified professional truck drivers because drivers are leaving the industry and looking for jobs that offer better pay, benefits and working conditions. Why then is there a shortage of truck drivers in recent times? They are simply not happy or satisfied with the lifestyle of driving a truck m anon only. Let’s find out together in this in-depth study.
Lack of truck drivers: why?
There are many people with the training and skills needed to fill these truck driving positions. The first fact, which immediately jumps out at you, is that most truck drivers have quit because there is low pay and less than desirable working conditions. It seems that many are still leaving the industry today in search of better careers.
Another reason why there is a shortage of truck drivers today is that they often start out enthusiastic about their jobs but then once they start driving, they discover that some individuals part of the trucking industry have histories of unfair treatment for drivers and pay them low wages without Evaluate extra hours and mandatory rest hours.
Statistics show that there is a shortage of truck drivers as early as 2019 pre-pandemic.
Why is there a shortage of truck drivers? Here are the main reasons
The shortage of truck drivers is not only due to a lack of individuals interested in becoming drivers.
There are many potential drivers interested in becoming career truck drivers, but once they discover: the low pay, the lack of respect, the often precarious working conditions, the extra unpaid work
They therefore decide to abandon the idea. In Europe, unlike Canada and the U.S. the salary of a truck driver is also lower by as much as 30 percent.
Truck driver salary: one of the causes of the shortage
According to research by Italent the average salary per truck driver in Italy is € 27 600 per year or € 14.15 per hour. “Entry level” positions earn a salary of €19,478 per year, while more experienced workers earn up to €30,000 per year. Of course, these are just average indicators that vary from trucking company to trucking company and also by hours and routes traveled.
However, when they feel undervalued and underpaid, truck drivers currently in the industry leave their jobs to look for something that offers better pay, benefits and working conditions. There was a time when truck drivers made decent money for their hard work. This is no longer so widespread it seems.
In addition, the cost of living has risen sharply, as has gasoline, and cutbacks in firms have affected drivers. Wages have not kept pace with the cost of living.
In fact, wages are so low in some trucking companies that it is simply no longer worth the sacrifices drivers make for the job.
Now, along with low freight shipping rates, there is not much left to sufficiently compensate the driver; low wages are also dependent on this.
Truck driver shortage: an uncertain future?
According to statistics, most drivers are not paid for all the time they have worked.
Some companies pay only for drivers’ mileage instead of total time, the rest of the energy they invest in driving.
We firmly believe it is a job of great responsibility that without adequate rest cannot be safely conceived.
Some drivers do not get pay for the time they spend stuck in traffic jams, construction zones, bad weather or any other delays they encounter while on the road.
Mileage-based pay also raises safety issues. Drivers may “push too hard” and stay on the road even when they know they need to rest. Although the trucking industry is heavily regulated, there are often those who do not follow the directions of the Highway Code and do not get enough rest.
Today it is compulsory to keep a record of their hours of service status showing that they are following these rules.
Many truck drivers decide to quit their jobs because unfair fines are charged to drivers rather than to the company, which takes it upon itself to further reduce their overall pay.
The job of a truck driver is risky and dangerous because in addition to spending long hours on the road, driving a truck is much more difficult than driving smaller vehicles, and not everyone wants to take this poorly paid risk anymore. Drivers need to be vigilant at all times and know how to manage their truck in bad weather, traffic, nighttime, and keep schedules unchanged and fast.
If you are looking for impeccable, professional and highly skilled trucking drivers contact Autotrasporti Virdò for a quote for your logistics service.
