European truck driver shortage: where do we stand in 2026?

The truck driver shortage remains the blind spot of European road freight. According to the IRU, 426,000 positions were unfilled at end-2025 across the EU, up 28% in four years. Here is the concrete picture for B2B shippers.

Why does the shortage persist?

Several causes converge: age pyramid (35% of drivers are 55+), tough working conditions, low appeal to younger workers, and the cost of initial training (€3,000–5,000 for a Class C licence).

Concrete impact on your shipments

• Loading delays extended by 12–36h on certain corridors

• Driver surcharges applied by 60% of carriers in 2025

• Spot rates up 8–14% on long-distance lanes

What to do, practically

Plan 3–5 days earlier than before, accept flexibility on loading windows, diversify carriers, and favor rail-road multimodal on busy corridors (>800 km).