Spain abandons Moroccan truckers for the Turks

The Spanish road freight transport sector is going through a structural crisis marked by a growing shortage of skilled labor. Despite the rise of e-commerce and the demand for fast delivery, companies are struggling to recruit professional drivers, putting the entire national logistics chain under pressure. To address this emergency, the Spanish authorities and professional organizations are redirecting their international recruitment strategies towards new employment pools.

After initially exploring the recruitment of drivers in Morocco, the focus is now on Turkey, a country recognized for its long tradition in international road transport. A recent agreement paves the way for the arrival of 30,000 Turkish drivers in the medium term. This recruitment volume corresponds to the number of positions currently unfilled in the Spanish territory, which represents about 10% of the total active population in the sector.

The lack of truck drivers is no longer a cyclical difficulty but a systemic blockage that directly impacts the country’s logistics capacity. The immobilization of part of the fleet and the inability to ensure certain journeys lead to an increase in operating costs, particularly affecting small and medium-sized enterprises. Despite the offer of stable contracts, the shortage of skilled personnel persists, threatening the fluidity of supplies if these measures to import labor are not quickly implemented.