Today European Road transportation market faces huge challenges. Decarbonization and development of trucks is something that can be accomplished in a matter of years, yet drivers’ shortage is a rising issue that cannot be easily addressed and solved. Today many logistics companies are facing this problem with drivers. Normally the average number of employed drivers should be around 1.4 – 1.5 drivers per truck, there are many situations where there is even less than 1 driver per truck. That is causing a lot of turbulence in supply chains all around Europe.
Rising issue
How to tackle this issue? Despite making simpler requirements and procedures for gaining a professional driving license, and attracting more people, one of the lowest hanging fruit is a collaboration with countries in close distance to Europe, like Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan.
“A shortage of drivers is an issue that became a global one, affecting not only Europe but the entire world. Yet only in Europe, we are missing approximately 400-450 thousand professional drivers. And there is no simple solution to it, as many drivers soon will retire and there is no potential and attractiveness of the job in young generations, yet. I said yet, as I think that Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are examples and a beacon of hope, that there is a future for this kind of job and room for professionals to develop.” – says Mindaugas Paulauskas, CEO of Girteka Transport, part of Girteka Group.
Expanding offices
New branches of Girteka Transport situated in Almaty in Kazakhstan and Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan will focus on attracting professional drivers to work in Europe for Girteka. As of today within Girteka Group there are already more than 3000 professional drivers from Asian countries, Girteka is focusing on making the job itself more and more attractive, and the recruitment process transparent, more efficient, and quicker.
“The new office of Girteka Transport in Kazakhstan will empower us to promote the profession of truck driving locally. We take great care to ensure that our recruitment process is transparent, safe, and secure for all potential drivers.” – explains Oksana Karpovičienė, Head of HR Expansion at Girteka Transport.
With new branches in those countries, Girteka will not only address drivers’ shortage but are also responding to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan drivers’ needs and requirements, of a fast and transparent process, where both side mutually benefits from it. Fastening the procedures, clear and more understandable job offers requirements, but also driving tests, that assure the quality of road transportation services, is just a beginning in terms of benefits.
Those test activities are the next steps in a long-term strategy of Girteka, to build proper stable, and reliable logistics services across Europe, in the face of challenges related to drivers’ shortage and the attractiveness of drivers’ jobs. Being the largest asset-based company in Europe, finding business-proven solutions, like involving drivers from outside the EU is the responsibility that the company has to its customers, communities, and partners. Although one of the key elements of providing best-in-class solutions is also quality, which is assured during the recruitment process and driver tests, and later ongoing programs to maintain and upgrade drivers’ skills. Starting from very thorough training during the onboarding process, through constant periodic practical and online training, drivers from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are gaining valuable experience and skills that later on can be used to provide logistics services across Europe.