Iniziativa Pubblica ANAV

The shortage of drivers in bus passenger transport. A global emergency. Proposals to curb the phenomenon

The current problem of professional drivers’ shortage has now taken on a global dimension and is having a significant impact on the recovery of operators after the pandemic crisis.

For about a year ANAV's member companies, in full autonomy and while bearing significant costs of management and organization, have put in place their own Academies in order to offer internal training and a path aimed at a definitive hiring in the company staff of new drivers. To reward and give visibility to these initiatives, ANAV has recently established the Vaicolbus Academy Award, whose first edition was held in June on the occasion of our Ordinary Assembly.

In this context, ANAV is also working to ensure that the measures contained in the recent “Flows Decree”, which now also identifies specific needs for our sector, can be implemented.

The problem of drivers shortage, as is well known, is becoming a real emergency. As shown by the data provided by the IRU, if in 2021 6.9% of the driver positions were vacant, in 2022 there was an increase of + 86% with 13% of driver positions not covered (about 11,000 units). And the prospects for 2023 predict a further increase.

To frame the terms of the problem, both at national and European level, draw a first orientation on the state of the art and, above all, to make concrete future proposals, ANAV will held a conference on "The shortage of drivers in the passenger transport sector" and will be followed by a round table.

Raluca Marian, IRU Director of EU Advocacy and Brussels General Delegate will be participating as speaker during the Round table starting at 10:00.