IRU Warns of 380,000 Unfilled Driver Seats: Europe’s Haulage Backbone Under Pressure

The IRU’s latest European driver shortage report confirms over 380,000 heavy truck driver positions remain vacant across the EU, with aging demographics accelerating the deficit. Carrier associations stress that without rapid improvements in roadside welfare, dignified rest infrastructure, and simplified cross-border third-country licensing, freight capacity constraints will drive freight transport rates higher into 2027.

What is the single biggest factor needed to keep professional drivers in the industry—better wages, safer parking hubs, or less administrative paperwork?