A new warning has been issued by the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce. The road freight transport sector is at risk due to a shortage of truck drivers, which it considers "a structural problem that threatens the sector's sustainability and represents a growing risk to the entire economy and supply chain." According to the Chamber, there are already more than 30,000 unfilled vacancies in the sector in Spain, a figure that could exceed 100,000 in just a few years if decisive action is not taken. At the European level, it is projected that by 2028 there will be a shortage of approximately 745,000 professionals. Adding to this situation, the Chamber notes, is the aging workforce: more than 70% of drivers are over 50 years old, and only 3% are under 25. For this reason, the organization proposes the urgent design and implementation of a plan to attract new professionals to the sector. A plan that, according to the corporation chaired by Josep Santacreu, should be agreed upon by companies and social partners, with the aim of attracting young transport professionals. This plan should be based on three main pillars: dignifying the profession, implementing a secure truck parking plan, and promoting more accessible, integrated training adapted to the real needs of the region. In addition, the Chamber also proposes facilitating, in an orderly and guaranteed manner, the hiring of drivers from other countries to meet the sector's immediate needs, as well as promoting subsidies for fleet renewal, the decarbonization of transport, and the modernization of associated services. 5% of GDP

According to the Chamber, road freight transport is an essential pillar of the production system, handling nearly 80% of the goods moved annually in Spain. The organization highlights that the transport and logistics sector in Spain represents around 5% of GDP, and in the last decade this activity has grown by more than 40%, driven by the economic recovery, the expansion of e-commerce, and new consumption and distribution patterns. Despite the future increase in rail freight transport, the Chamber indicates that demand for trucks will continue to rise, especially for short- and medium-distance metropolitan routes.

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There are increasingly more trucks on the AP-7 motorway, but the question is what kind of trucks they are and who is driving them. Sources within the Catalan government, consulted by ARA, indicate that in recent accidents on Catalonia's main motorway, as well as on other roads in the country, a pattern sometimes emerges that worries them: the driver at fault is a foreigner unfamiliar with local traffic and signage. Often, these accidents don't result in injuries, but they disrupt traffic and can cause delays. In the last five or six years, there have been almost 4,000 accidents on the AP-7 involving a truck, and 36% of these drivers were foreign nationals. However, these same sources have recently highlighted a trend: there is a growing presence of drivers from outside the European Union who obtained their licenses in Spain through a license exchange program. Since 2019, the number of drivers from North Africa involved in accidents has doubled (from 31 to 65). The number of drivers coming from South America has increased from 42 to 77, and those from North America from 4 to 15. This effect has been particularly noticeable since last year. The same sources warn that these are not necessarily more reckless drivers, but rather drivers who are not as accustomed to driving within the European Union. Josep Lluís Ayma, director of the Tarragona Provincial Federation of Motor Transport Companies (FEAT), agrees, stating that they have a different driving style and "sometimes cause problems." The root cause lies in license exchanges. If someone from outside the European Union wants to drive a truck in Spain and already has a license to do so in their country of origin, they must request an exchange from the DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic), which has agreements with various countries. First, it's necessary to obtain a professional certificate, which is achieved after 35 hours of training for experienced drivers—those who have held a license since 2009—and 180 hours for younger drivers.

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