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. (....)