GENEVA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Despite reduced demand due to COVID-19, there is still an alarming shortage of drivers, and driver shortages continue to plague road transport operators in all regions, according to a survey published on Monday by the Geneva-based International Road Transport Union (IRU).
The survey also revealed that governments must act on safe and secure parking to improve working conditions, training and lowering minimum driver age, especially to help steer unemployed youth and women into the profession.
Surveying 800 road transport companies from over 20 countries and regions, the IRU survey found that driver shortage was most acute in Eurasia, where last year 20 percent of driver positions were not filled.
According to the survey, the driver shortage was less serious in 2020 than in 2019 due to the pandemic. In Europe, unfilled driver positions fell by around three quarters, from 20 percent to 5 percent for bus and coach drivers and from 24 percent to 7 percent for truck drivers.
However, transport companies forecast driver shortages to intensify again in 2021 as economies recover and demand for transport services increases.
As shown by the survey, European companies are expecting a 17 percent shortfall in drivers this year. This shortfall is expected to reach 18 percent in Mexico, 20 percent in Turkey, 24 percent in Russia, and almost one third in Uzbekistan.
"Driver shortage threatens the functioning of road transport, supply chains, trade, the economy, and ultimately employment and citizens' welfare. This is not an issue that can wait, action needs to be taken now," said IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto. Enditem