Executive Summary
- The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has released the 2024 Global Truck Driver Shortage Report.
- The 2024 Global Truck Driver Shortage Report shows a widening driver age gap, with not enough young drivers entering the profession to cover the predicted 3.4 million drivers who will retire in the 36 countries studied by 2029.
- Australia is reported to be one of the countries most affected by an ageing truck driver workforce. In Australia, 47% of drivers are over 55 and according to the IRU analysis, with over 21% of drivers expected to retire by 2029.
- The crisis is already being felt in Australia, with the IRU report indicating almost 28,000 unfilled heavy vehicle driver positions.
- Australia was included in the Global Truck Driver Shortage survey for the first time in 2024, with local driver survey participation facilitated by the National Road Transport Association (NatRoad).
Global Driver Shortage Report
The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has released the Global Truck Driver Shortage Report for 2024 providing a clear picture of the deepening driver crisis facing transport operators both locally and overseas.
“The report from 2024 reaffirms that the shortage of truck drivers is a long-term structural issue that persists in all regions,” said Umberto de Pretto, IRU Secretary General.
“Of 5,100 trucking firms surveyed in 2024, up to 70%, in some countries, face severe or very severe difficulties in recruiting drivers. Globally, the share of truck drivers who are over 55 is 31.6%.1 Countries with very high percentages of older drivers include Spain at 50%, Australia at 47%, and Italy at 45%.”
According to the report the number of unfilled truck driver jobs ranged from 7% to 17% of the total driver workforce, representing 3.6 million truck drivers across all countries involved in the study. This is a chronic structural issue across the world for the trucking industry. Between 44% and 70% of trucking operators say they are facing severe or very severe difficulties in getting drivers.2
There were close to 28,000 unfilled heavy vehicle driver positions in Australia in 2024.
Australia reports 47% of drivers to be over 55, yet only 5.4% of drivers in Australia are under 25. This is part of a global demographic time bomb. In the coming years, retiring drivers will exacerbate the existing driver shortage if they are not replaced. At a point when the freight task is growing, Australia can expect 21% of its drivers to retire by 2029, according to the IRU analysis.
“This is a global problem, and the Australian Government must demonstrate national leadership by addressing the local driver shortage and improving road safety,” said Warren Clark, NatRoad CEO.
“We need a Road Freight Workforce Action Plan including a national Truck Driver Standard, licensing and training reform and a consistent truck driver apprenticeship across all states and territories,” Clark added.
The predicted global GDP growth reported by IRU will further exacerbate the problem, as higher economic output always means a higher demand for truck drivers. In Australia road freight volumes are projected to grow by 77 percent by 2050, placing immense pressure on top of the existing shortage and impeding retirement of so many of our essential truck drivers.
IRU represents road transport operators worldwide and has member associations and associate members in over 100 countries across all five continents. NatRoad joined as a member of IRU in 2023 and facilitated Australian participation in the Global Truck Driver Survey for the first time in 2024.
- Excluding China and Türkiye
- Excluding Uzbekistan
Media contact
Email: media@natroad.com.au
