Why is there a truck and bus driver shortage out there? (Our thoughts)

400,000 drivers missing at the moment, and this number will grow significantly in the next 5 years.

Trucks are becoming more comfortable, and what we see is that many companies - including big ones - are starting to think about driver wellbeing. Salaries are not bad either, especially considering you don't need to spend 6–7 years in higher education to work in this profession. But still - people, at least from Europe, are not choosing it. Why?

First, the common rule across the EU is that you have to be 21 to get a CE category license. Yes, some member states allow 18-year-olds with a 95. Code qualification, but many strictly hold at 21. So when you finish school, you face years where you either can't work in this field or are stuck in lower-paid category work - and during that time people just look for something else. The EU actually passed a directive in 2025 to lower the age to 18, but it won't come into effect until 2029. Problem is acknowledged. Fix is coming. Just very, very slowly.

Second, working conditions in general: 2,000–3,000 km from home, missing basic needs, enormous responsibility (traffic fines, cargo, the truck and trailer itself), loneliness, traffic, extreme road conditions... and this list goes on.

But should driver shortage be every company's problem?

No - we believe there are companies that shouldn't be struggling with this, but unfortunately are. The ones who understood that drivers matter just as much as customers. That drivers are actually business partners, and should be treated the same way.

What we've noticed, though, is that even these companies still struggle - both day-to-day and when they want to grow - because they're missing the right tools for recruitment.

These are the companies we look for as CE.D partners, and we believe there are thousands of them out there. So if you know a good transport company, feel free to share CE.D with them. Our mission is to help them recruit drivers in an efficient way.