Answer given by Ms Vălean on behalf of the European Commission
15.4.2024
The Commission is aware of the shortage of professional bus and truck drivers in the EU. The driver demography suggests that the problem is bound to increase in the near future.
The reasons for driver shortage are manyfold and the Commission is trying to address them with various initiatives[1], however not with support measures to cover training costs.
Training courses to obtain and to keep a certificate of professional competence for bus and truck drivers raise the standards of those drivers and thus contribute not only to more road safety but also help increase the safety of the driver.
In times of driver shortage, the cost of the necessary training is decreasing relative to the cost of heavy vehicles standing idle and not being used because there is no driver. In this context, it should in principle be possible for the sector itself to find solutions to finance the training costs.
Since its launch in 2017, the ‘Women in Transport — EU Platform for Change’[2] has successfully triggered attention among transport stakeholders.
Its members represent all transport modes, employers’ and workers’ representatives, organisations, Member States etc. Platform members have so far presented 27 actions to promote women in transport, e.g. through codes of conduct, mentoring, networking, anti-harassment initiatives and training or awareness raising measures.
The platform allows members to share experiences and good practices. In addition to 3 annual meetings, it also participates in industry actions, e.g. the ‘Women in Rail Award’ (2022), the annual Aviation4Girls day and an ‘Honours for Diversity and Inclusion in Maritime’ in 2024.
Reports on the Platform’s work are published every two years (last in 2022).
- [1] E.g. a better work environment following the implementation of the mobility package adopted in 2020 (Regulation (EU) 2020/1054, Regulation (EU) 2020/1055 and Directive (EU) 2020/1057, all OJ L 249, 31.7.2020) or attracting more young people by proposing the introduction of an accompanied driving scheme for truck drivers aged 17 (COM(2023) 127 final).
- [2] https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/social-issues-equality-and-attractiveness-transport-sector/equality/women-transport-eu-platform-change_en