Poland is experiencing a significant shortage of professional truck drivers, with approximately 30,000 vacancies remaining unfilled. This issue has been highlighted by various organizations representing transport companies.
Speaking to RMF, Maciej Wroński from the Association of Employers “Transport and Logistics” notes that the shortage is most acute in the southern and western regions of Poland. “It’s a tough job that requires being away from friends and family for extended periods, and it simply isn’t appealing,” Wroński explains. He points out that companies in Lower Silesia and the Lubusz Voivodeship, close to the German labor market, are particularly affected.
One contributing factor to the shortage is the departure of many young Ukrainian men from Poland. According to the Polish Road Transport Institute, the average monthly net salary for professional drivers in Poland is currently over 7,800 PLN.
In light of the shortage, there are discussions about easing the process of hiring truck drivers from outside the EU. Last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held talks with transport operators who are advocating for quicker and easier visa and permit processes for workers from other continents. There is a particular interest in attracting workers from Asia, with increasing numbers of individuals from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan expressing a desire to work in Poland.
Currently, around 160,000 non-EU drivers are employed in Poland, driving trucks with Polish registrations across Europe. This reliance on foreign labor highlights the urgent need for solutions to the driver shortage to ensure the continuity of Poland’s transport and logistics sector.