Staffing Crisis in Transport: 10,000 PLN Net Fails to Attract Young Truck Drivers

Poland's road freight transport sector is facing one of the most severe staffing crises in its history, despite record-high declared earnings. Job offers for truck drivers, reaching 9,000-10,000 PLN net per month, go unanswered, and companies consistently report staffing shortages counted in tens of thousands of positions. The problem is structural, and its causes lie deep in the exceptionally difficult realities of this profession, which completely deter the younger generation. The shortage of professional drivers is a phenomenon observed across Europe for at least a decade. Its roots include, among others, the economic boom following Poland's accession to the EU in 2004, which caused the first mass outflow of Polish drivers to Western carriers. Over the last 20 years, the dynamic development of e-commerce and globalization has only increased demand for transport services, disproportionately to the number of new workers entering the market. The key problem is the extremely poor working conditions, which contrast with the high amounts advertised. As explained by experienced international driver Iwona Blecharczyk, the real income is much lower: „You pay for the toilet, you pay for the shower, you pay for everything” (You pay for the toilet, you pay for the shower, you pay for everything.) — Experienced international driver. During multi-week trips across Europe, the driver must personally pay for using toilets and showers at parking areas, expensive meals, and the parking spot itself. These expenses, reaching hundreds of euros per month, drastically reduce the salary. This is compounded by permanent, exhausting separation from family, living in a cramped truck cabin, working under immense time pressure from the tachograph, and often primitive living conditions at European parking areas. 50+ — years is the average age of a Polish truck driver. This aging workforce finds no successors. Many experienced drivers decide to give up international transport in favor of domestic runs to be able to return home more often, even at the cost of a lower salary. An even larger group leaves to work directly for carriers from Germany, the Netherlands, or Belgium, where besides higher pay they also receive logistical support and better social infrastructure. The crisis has a direct impact on the entire economy. Supply chains are threatened, and the lack of drivers can lead to delays in delivering goods to shops, industrial plants, and logistics centers. In the longer term, this may translate into price increases for many products. The solution is not just higher wages. Experts point to the necessity of improving social conditions on the road, investing in safe parking areas with infrastructure, and changing the perception of a profession that today requires not only driving skills but also knowledge of telematics systems and international customs procedures. Without systemic changes, the industry faces the specter of deepening paralysis.