North Rhine-Westphalia's Plans to Address the Deficit in Truck Drivers
In a pressing concern for the nation, a significant shortage of truck and bus drivers is looming, with an estimated 70,000 truck drivers and 7,700 bus drivers lacking in the workforce. This shortage, according to experts, is exacerbated by the fact that the average age of drivers is over 50, with too few young people entering the profession.
The black-green state government in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is proposing to bring in more foreign truck and bus drivers to alleviate the crisis. However, Thomas Großstück, head of the logistics department at Verdi NRW, believes that the proposals are insufficient and demands decisive improvements. He suggests that public contracts should only be awarded to companies bound by collective agreements.
The state government is also pushing for easier recognition of foreign driving licenses at the federal level. Yet, the search results do not contain information regarding which federal states are proposed to be added to facilitate the recognition of foreign specialists' driver's licenses in Germany.
Green MP Ina Besche-Krastl proposes reducing long drives and improving rest areas to make the profession more attractive for truck drivers. Meanwhile, Christof Rasche calls for an expansion of traffic infrastructure due to increasing goods traffic on the roads.
The driver shortage is not just a concern for the black-green coalition, as both the black-red federal government and the Greens and FDP have the issue on their radar, as stated in their coalition agreement. NRW Economics Minister Mona Neubaur (Greens) called the driver shortage "alarming" and emphasized the need to shorten the training period for professional truck drivers.
Julia Kahle-Hausmann aims to address the reasons for the lack of apprentices. She cites poor pay, time pressure, lack of family-friendliness, stress from lack of parking spaces, and verbal abuse on the roads as potential deterrents for young people entering the profession.
Oliver Krauß emphasizes the need for more respect for truck drivers, who are often underappreciated, while Klaus Esser warns of poor training for truck drivers.
In a bid to address the shortage, a motion by the coalition factions suggests expanding the list of states whose driver's licenses are recognized. The professional truck drivers are considered a "shortage occupation" by the Federal Employment Agency, further highlighting the urgency of the situation.
As the driver shortage continues to grow, it is clear that decisive action is needed to ensure the smooth operation of goods transportation in Germany.
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