Driver shortage in Europe: what does it mean for transport availability?

The market may slow down, but the driver shortage continues to grow

European road freight is facing a paradox: even when demand for transport weakens, recruiting drivers does not become significantly easier for transport companies. The latest IRU report indicates that the shortage of professional drivers reached its highest level on record in 2025, despite weaker freight demand.

This is an important signal for companies that rely on road transport. The driver shortage may primarily affect carriers, but its consequences can be felt across the entire supply chain - particularly in vehicle availability, operational flexibility and the ability to arrange transport at short notice.

According to IRU, around 502,000 truck driver positions in Europe remained unfilled in 2025, representing 13% of total demand. At the same time, around 20% of Europe's current truck drivers are expected to retire within the next five years.

The challenge is therefore a long-term one. For companies using road transport, this means that vehicle availability cannot always be taken for granted.

How the driver shortage can affect day-to-day transport operations

The problem does not always appear as a direct message saying "no driver available".

Limited driver availability is only one of many factors affecting the transport market. Seasonality, the route itself, backhaul opportunities, waiting times at loading and unloading points, and current demand all play a role.

In practice, however, it is worth paying attention to signals such as:

• fewer offers on more challenging routes;
• longer vehicle confirmation times;
• larger differences between planned rates and the cost of transport arranged at the last minute;
• a more frequent need to look for an alternative vehicle or solution;
• less flexibility when demanding loading or unloading times are required.

Each of these signals may have a different cause. However, if they start appearing regularly on the same route, it may be worth taking a broader look at transport availability and the way shipments are planned.

What can be done on the transport planning side

An individual shipper cannot influence the number of drivers available on the European market. What companies can influence is how they prepare and plan their transport operations.

Several factors can make a particular difference.

Plan ahead whenever possible

Not every shipment can be predicted far in advance. However, if a company knows its expected volumes or regularly ships goods on the same routes, providing information earlier gives more time to find the right transport solution.

This is particularly important during periods of increased demand, before public holidays, during the holiday season or on routes where vehicle availability is limited.

Pay attention to the most challenging routes

Not every route is equally easy to cover.

Long waiting times, limited backhaul opportunities, restrictive booking slots or the need to operate at weekends can reduce the number of available options.

If a particular route regularly causes difficulties, it is worth taking this into account when planning future shipments rather than reacting only when finding a vehicle becomes difficult.

Reduce unnecessary waiting time

Drivers' working and driving hours are regulated and limited. This means that time spent waiting for loading, documentation or the opportunity to begin unloading also affects the efficiency of the entire transport operation.

Accurate bookings, documents prepared in advance, realistic loading times and efficient communication all help make better use of the time available.

When drivers are in short supply, reducing unnecessary downtime becomes even more important.

Do not leave your most challenging shipments without an alternative

For regular or particularly important shipments, it is worth knowing in advance what options are available if the standard solution cannot be secured.

This does not always mean having to work with several carriers at the same time. Sometimes it may be enough to consider an alternative vehicle type, a different loading time or another way of arranging transport on a particular route.

The worst time to start looking for a plan B is when the vehicle should already be at the loading point.

Watch for changes in availability on your regular routes

On-time delivery performance does not tell the whole story.

If confirming a vehicle on a regular route starts taking longer, fewer options are available, rates change more frequently or alternative solutions are needed more often, this may indicate that availability on that route is changing.

It is worth identifying these trends early. This can give you the opportunity to book transport sooner, allow more flexibility in loading and delivery times or explore other transport options in advance.

What is worth reviewing in your transport operations

A good place to start is by looking at your regular and most important routes.

Consider checking:

• which routes take the longest to secure a vehicle for;
• where last-minute bookings most often result in additional costs;
• which shipments regularly require an alternative solution;
• where drivers spend the most time waiting for loading or unloading;
• which shipments could be submitted for planning earlier;
• whether there is a realistic plan B for critical shipments.

This kind of review will not solve Europe's driver shortage, but it can help identify where limited availability is beginning to affect day-to-day transport operations.

Availability is becoming an increasingly important part of transport planning

The driver shortage does not mean that trucks will be unavailable every week. It does, however, mean that the market has less spare capacity, making it easier for seasonal peaks, disruptions along the route or sudden increases in demand to affect transport availability and pricing.

That is why the way transport is planned is becoming increasingly important alongside rates and delivery times.

Earlier information about upcoming shipments, complete and accurate transport details, realistic loading and unloading times and the ability to quickly find an alternative solution can make a real difference when market capacity begins to tighten.

In transport, not everything can be controlled. But the more you know in advance, the more options you have.