The shortage of freight transport drivers will continue to grow in Mexico, which is why the National Chamber of Freight Transport (Canacar) estimated that by the end of 2022, the deficit figure would exceed 56,000 operators, affecting competitiveness and disruption of supply chains from fuels (raw materials) to food.
Companies face stopped operations, not for lack of clients but operators, a situation that will worsen not only in Mexico but also in the world”, warned Martín Rojas, senior advisor for the Americas of the International Organization of Road Transport (IRU, for its acronym in English).
Insecurity and the salary level have been one of the factors that have most affected the shortage of road drivers, however, another phenomenon is at the door, since many of the most experienced drivers will stop working when they reach old age, he said in an interview when participating in the Canacar National Convention 2022.
“The challenge of the sector at the regional level is the scarcity of operators, and it is a challenge that will increase, the age of the operators is in the process of retiring or leaving the sector and the spaces will remain empty, plus those who leave to come. We have to find people who want to take over those places, because automation will come, but we will always need an operator,” warned the specialist.
The jerk between transport companies, especially retail companies, began with the proposal to raise the salary of operators, as a way to maintain their workforce.
Martín Rojas explained that the average salary for drivers in the United States is 38,000 dollars at the start and immediately after a year they are given a bonus, to place them at 45,000 dollars a year. This has motivated Mexican drivers to operate in that country.
Walmart, for example, announced that its truck drivers’ starting salary will be in the range of $95 to $110,000, plus training and avoiding a driver shortage.
In addition, José Medrano, president of Canacar, explained that around 10% of the companies’ truck fleet is unemployed due to the lack of drivers, which is already impacting the companies’ profitability, just at the moment of post-pandemic economic reactivation.
The deficit of cargo truck operators has become a global phenomenon, since IRU estimates show that 2.6 million operators are lacking in the world. In Mexico alone, between 48,000 and 52,000 in 2021; in the United States of 80,000 and Brazil of 100,000, and others in Europe of 100,000 operators, Asia and others.
By employing more than 6 million people, directly and indirectly, and contributing 3.3% of GDP, the cargo transport sector seeks to “dignify the work of operators”, for which Canacar signed agreements with the companies matrixes of the trucks that provide financing, medical services and professionalize the drivers.
The arrival of technology in the transport units that operate with natural gas and in the future electrification and hydrogen, will represent another challenge for the operators, for which the company Cummins and Canacar signed an agreement to provide training and tools to drivers.
lilia.gonzalez@eleconomista.mx
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