Conditions, rules and image: the keys to solving Italy’s driver shortage

Italy’s truck driver shortage has slightly eased. It currently stands at 9%. But the underlying challenges remain. The issue is not only about numbers, Andrea Tardivo, Technical Expert at IRU member CONFETRA, told us.

The first issue facing truck drivers is life on the road.

Truck driving is considered a challenging profession. It can mean long periods away from home. It can involve long waiting times at loading and unloading points. It can also mean limited access to suitable parking and rest facilities.

But these aspects have become more of a problem because the current regulatory framework on driving and rest times and the European road network are not up to the demands of modern transport operations.

“Instead of addressing ecological sustainability issues in a dogmatic and unrealistic way, politics should focus on human and social sustainability to guarantee regulations and infrastructure that do not conflict with the human dignity of drivers,” said Andrea Tardivo.

And these issues, which shouldn't be inherent to the profession, discourage young people and women from entering the industry.

“If young people think the job only means staying away for days and days, they will not be attracted to it,” said Andrea Tardivo.

"The image of the profession is a major barrier. Politics and institutions above all should realise this, given the strategic importance of trucking for the European economy. Modern trucks are more comfortable, safer and better equipped, and the world of transport and logistics is now at the forefront of digitalisation and the development of new technologies. But this reality is not always visible from the outside,” he added.

The industry needs to change the narrative. Road transport is too often presented only as difficult or outdated, rather than as a rapidly evolving sector with many opportunities for professional development. This does not reflect the transformation already taking place in vehicles, technology and the daily operations of companies.

But changing people's perception is complex unless the vision that politicians and European institutions have of the sector changes.

“We must stop repeatedly telling the world that trucks are only a source of pollution, and start valuing the role of transport and the professional opportunities it can offer,” said Andrea Tardivo.

But image is only part of the problem. Working patterns are also changing. Long-haul transport is particularly affected by staff shortages because it requires drivers to spend long periods away from home. This no longer fits easily with modern expectations of work-life balance.

And even if this will mean rethinking part of the work organisation, it is also true that a large part of long-distance transport cannot be changed today due to market demands.

“In Europe, over 90% of goods travel by road precisely because this type of transport can provide a flexibility that no other mode of transport can offer,” said Andrea Tardivo. “In today's economy, companies and consumers do not want to give up this flexibility.”

“More short-distance operations, better planning, and more efficient logistics could help make the profession more attractive, but this would lead to a significant increase in costs and a rethinking of current logistical infrastructure,” said Andrea Tardivo. "How can a sector invest if the value of transport is not recognised economically and politically?”

Waiting times are a clear example of how transport issues are caused by the inefficiencies of others. Drivers often spend hours at loading or unloading sites due to clients who do not bother to optimise loading and unloading times. They believe they are not required to pay for the downtime of the driver and the vehicle in the yard.

Yet companies still have to pay their drivers even during these waits. This attitude creates pressure on operators by reducing operating margins and frustrates drivers who find themselves “parked” doing nothing and forced to delay their return home for unclear reasons.

Andrea Tardivo also pointed to Italy’s market structure. The country has many small transport companies, including owner-operators. Many have struggled to remain sustainable. Some have closed. Others have moved into larger companies.

“This shift may partly explain why the shortage appears to have eased. Some former independent drivers have become employees. But it does not solve the wider problem.”

The cost of entering the profession remains high. Obtaining a licence and the necessary qualifications can cost several thousand euros in Italy. CONFETRA has supported initiatives such as truck driver academies to help people access the profession.

“Recruitment remains difficult. “Some initiatives have targeted unemployed people and asylum seekers. These can help in specific cases, but they are not a long-term solution," said Andrea Tardivo.

Foreign drivers also play an important role in Italy. In the past, many came from Romania and other Eastern European countries. Today, recruitment networks increasingly involve countries such as Albania, Algeria and Morocco.

But this raises another challenge. The recognition of third-country driving licences and qualifications is managed at the national level, creating market disparities and the risk of certain countries offering simplified entry conditions to attract new drivers. For CONFETRA, this is neither efficient nor fair.

"It is not possible for each EU country to manage these aspects individually,” said Andrea Tardivo. “We have to move as the European Union.”

A more coordinated EU approach could make recruitment processes clearer and more consistent. It could also reduce barriers for qualified drivers who want to enter the EU labour market.

“Italy, like the rest of Europe, needs, and will increasingly need, drivers," concluded Andrea Tardivo. "But drivers have a right to a profession that keeps up with the times: safer, better organised, adequately paid, and compatible with life beyond the cab.”