Truck driver shortage in Ukraine reaches 25% due to mobilization

Source: Interfax-Ukraina

Ukrainian delivery service businesses are facing  a “25% shortage” of truck drivers in the transport and logistics sector due to mobilization.

“The 25% shortage of truck drivers is a preliminary figure we gathered from transport and logistics companies. In some companies, the shortage exceeds 50% due to mobilization. This equates to around 30,000 drivers needed for freight transport operations,” said Serhii Derkach, Deputy Minister of Community, Territory, and Infrastructure Development.

Things are worse fro passenger transport in cities where such shortage stands at 30% meaning the sector needs 6,000 drivers out of the 14,000 needed to meed demand.

Derkach said that transport companies are now training women to become truck drivers. A project, supported by USAID and implemented by the Ministry and the Foundation for Institutional Development, aims to prepare women for long-haul truck driving. Out of 1,000 applications, 100 women were selected to participate, with 25 major Ukrainian employers ready to hire them.

“Our goal with this project isn’t to fill all vacancies but to change perceptions of women behind the wheel of a truck. We want to show that it’s possible and could be a solution to the current situation,” Derkach added.