Argentina is not facing a uniform shortage of truck drivers. Instead, the country is seeing a widening gap between the drivers available and the qualifications required in its most demanding transport sectors.
In Argentina, the driver shortage picture varies considerably by region and activity. General transport experienced less pressure during the 2023–2024 economic slowdown. However, shortages remained acute in mining, oil and gas, dangerous goods transport, and some long-distance operations.
“There is not a shortage of drivers in general but of drivers who meet the standards required by the most dynamic parts of the market,” said Guido Heras, FPT/FADEEAC’s Director of Technical Affairs.
Guido Heras explained to us that the lower shortage rate recorded during the slowdown did not reflect a structural improvement in driver supply. The number of available drivers remained broadly stable. What changed was demand.
As economic activity weakened, existing drivers filled a larger share of available positions. But as growth returns, the underlying pressure is expected to become more visible again.
“The relative optimism did not reflect a structural improvement,” said Guido Heras. “It was mainly the result of a temporary period of weaker activity.”
Pressure concentrated in high-demand sectors
The greatest pressure is being felt in industries and services linked to oil and gas and mining (copper and lithium), with a significant impact on specific regions such as Patagonia, Cuyo and north-western Argentina.
Operators in these sectors often require drivers to complete specialised training, psychophysical and sensorimotor examinations, and strict safety protocols. This significantly reduces the pool of eligible candidates.
Some companies receive applications regularly. But they are still unable to recruit. In certain cases, vehicles remain idle because available candidates do not meet the required standards.
“Companies may prefer to leave a truck parked rather than to hire someone who does not meet the minimum requirements and take on the related safety and regulatory risks,” said Guido Heras.
Competition among sectors is also increasing. Mining and oil and gas companies can offer higher pay and, in some cases, better working conditions. This attracts experienced drivers away from conventional road freight operations.
IRU member FADEEAC expects the pressure to rise if Argentina’s economic recovery accelerates. Growth in mining, oil and gas, cross-border transport and potentially cabotage could increase demand faster than the training system can respond.
Ageing workforce and barriers
Argentina’s driver workforce is ageing, although the situation varies by segment.
For a typical family-owned transport company with fewer than 30 trucks, more than 40% of its drivers may be over 55. It should also be noted that the retirement age for professional drivers in Argentina is 55.
At the same time, young people face several barriers to entering the profession. The minimum age of 21 creates a gap between when young people leave secondary school and when they can drive professionally. For example, only 3–4% of drivers who have completed the courses required by one of the shippers in the oil and gas industry are under 25, while 9% are over 55.
Young applicants also struggle to gain experience, particularly in sectors where companies prefer not to hire drivers under 25. This creates a vicious circle: without experience, there is no job; without a job, there is no opportunity to gain experience.
Working conditions are another obstacle. Long periods away from home, inadequate roadside facilities and the negative image of the profession make recruitment more difficult.
Women remain particularly underrepresented. FADEEAC highlighted the Women at the Wheel programme, promoted by IRU member Scania together with FADEEAC, as one of the most established initiatives supporting greater female participation. Since 2019, the programme has provided dedicated training and focused on candidates seeking to work as professional drivers.
Training is central to the solution
FADEEAC has identified sector-specific professional training as one of the most effective responses to the shortage.
Programmes for the oil and gas industry combine specialised training with relevant examinations. Similar initiatives are being developed for the mining sector and high-capacity vehicle combinations. “This model responds to real market demand and produces drivers who are genuinely employable in higher-value segments,” said Guido Heras.
Looking ahead, FADEEAC believes Argentina needs more consistent national training standards, stronger practical skills validation, and wider access to qualified training centres and simulators.
Regulatory simplification may help more people enter the profession. But without sufficient training capacity, it will not close the skills gap.
The central challenge is therefore not simply to attract more drivers; it is to prepare more drivers for the sectors where demand is growing fastest.