India | Mumbai

Driving the just transition

1 Nov 2023 · People

How do we make a just transition happen? At the Young Transport Workers' Conference, IRU highlighted the common thread between driver shortages and a just transition: young people.

How do we decarbonise the road transport industry while continuing to offer fulfilling career opportunities to young people? In other words, how do we facilitate a just transition?

At the International Transport Workers' Federation’s (ITF’s) Young Transport Workers' Conference in India, IRU Senior Global Advocacy Adviser Jens Hügel said, “A just transition in road transport focuses on the need to become carbon neutral by 2050, as outlined in IRU’s Green Compact, while continuing to provide great career opportunities to young people. What’s the use of having clean vehicles if we don’t have drivers?”

“We can’t leave young people behind as we transition. We certainly have to continue improving the accessibility and conditions of the driver profession, ensuring that it continues to be an attractive career opportunity. Young people also hold the key to preventing the worst driver shortage forecasts from materialising,” he added.

The road transport industry is facing a chronic shortage of drivers, threatening the stability of mobility networks and supply chains. It’s forecast to get much worse without significant action.

“Many countries and regions are facing high youth unemployment rates. Meanwhile, in the same places, around 30% of drivers are over 55 years old, while only 3 to 10% are 25 or younger,” highlighted Jens Hügel.

“Governments, transport employers and users must work with trade unions to create fulfilling jobs to end driver shortages. IRU is focused on closing the ‘school-to-wheel gap’, building more safe and secure parking areas, providing more skilling and reskilling training through the IRU Academy and other channels, improving conditions at delivery sites and border crossings, as well as building awareness around young people’s critical role in our industry with initiatives such as our New Industry Shapers campaign,” he added.

Another solution to ease the shortage is to facilitate the access of qualified third-country drivers from countries with a surplus of professional drivers to help cover the gap.

Earlier this year, IRU and ITF launched a three-point plan to better balance national labour pools between those with a surplus and those with a deficit of driver talent. The plan outlines action for the UN, national governments and the industry.

“Ultimately, we need to look into policies and action that create a modern, green and resilient transport workforce,” concluded Jens Hügel.