European Truck Driver Shortage Update

Best estimates put a figure of 20% of tractor units standing empty all over Europe. Why? We simply haven’t got enough European HGV drivers. In the U.K and Germany alone, a shortage of 300,000 HGV drivers is predicted by 2020. With e-commerce having an increasing share of all retail sales in the uk, up from 16.4-18% between 2017 and 2018, the demand for transport services is growing rapidly. Supply of transport on the other hand, is falling. Basic economics has kicked in. The days of a forwarder or logistics company dictating rates to European and UK hauliers are long gone. UK and European haulage rates have been steadily increasing throughout 2017 and continue to do so. To add to the existing crisis, the Freight Transport Association fears that the UK’s impending departure from the European Union will greatly exacerbate the problem of driver shortages and shortfalls of staff within the wider logistics sector, with concerns that this is already beginning to happen.

For more information on European Truck Driver Shortage Update talk to Espace Europe Freight Forwarders