International Truck Drivers Are Leaving the Profession Despite Salaries of up to 12,000 PLN

Polish road transport faces a serious staffing challenge. Although recruitment ads promise attractive monthly salaries reaching up to 12,000 PLN, companies are struggling to find willing drivers. This crisis has been observed for several years but is now intensifying. Experienced drivers, often after years in international transport, are deciding to give up long-haul routes in favor of 'domestic runs'. This solution allows them to be home more often, though it comes with lower earnings. This indicates that for many workers, the priority is no longer just the salary amount, but quality of life and time spent with family. The staffing crisis in road transport in Poland and the European Union has been growing since the second decade of the 21st century. After EU accession in 2004, many Polish drivers went to work in Western Europe, which initially alleviated local shortages but over time contributed to a brain drain in the sector. The dynamic development of e-commerce and logistics over the last 15 years has only increased the demand for transport services. One of the key reasons for the outflow of staff is the real working conditions. Despite seemingly high rates, as emphasized by professional truck driver Iwona Blecharczyk, a large part of earnings is consumed by daily expenses on the road. „Płacisz za toaletę, płacisz za prysznic, płacisz za wszystko” (You pay for the toilet, you pay for the shower, you pay for everything.) — Professional truck driver, commenting on the realities of work in transport.. These 'hidden costs' of life on the road, including food, significantly reduce the take-home pay. The industry is also struggling with an aging driver population, and young people are not drawn to this profession, perceived as hard, requiring long absences from home, and burdened with bureaucracy. The problem has a pan-European dimension. According to a report by Eurowag, the driver shortage is felt not only in Poland but also in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Spain, and Portugal. This means we are dealing with a systemic challenge for EU logistics. In some regions of Poland, the situation is further worsened by the economic emigration of drivers to Western EU countries and their retraining. If these trends continue, the staffing gap could deepen further in the coming years, threatening to disrupt supply chains, increase transport costs, and consequently, the prices of goods.