By Maria Kalamatas | July 22, 2025
Section: International / Land Transport & Road Freight
Warsaw, July 22 — Trucking companies across Europe are warning of tighter capacity and rising freight costs as a worsening shortage of qualified drivers strains the region’s overland logistics network.
“We’re turning down contracts we would normally accept because we simply don’t have enough drivers,” said Piotr Nowak, operations director at a Warsaw-based haulage firm specializing in cross-border routes. “The shortage is reaching levels we haven’t seen in over a decade.”
Shortfall grows despite recruitment drives
Industry associations estimate that Europe is currently short by more than 500,000 professional drivers, with the gap widening as older workers retire and fewer young recruits enter the sector. Efforts to attract foreign drivers from Eastern Europe and Central Asia have only partially eased the pressure.
“Training programs and incentives are in place, but they can’t fill the gap overnight,” Nowak explained. “Meanwhile, demand for trucking remains strong, especially for just-in-time industries.”
Impact on shipping costs
With capacity stretched, spot rates for road freight have risen by 8 to 12 percent on some high-volume lanes since early July. Retailers and manufacturers are increasingly booking space weeks in advance to avoid last-minute surcharges.
“Cost predictability is now as important as speed,” said Elena Kovacs, supply chain lead for a Hungarian electronics distributor. “We’ve had to renegotiate delivery schedules just to secure reliable service.”
Pressure ahead of peak season
As back-to-school and pre-holiday demand ramps up, forwarders warn that capacity could tighten further, potentially forcing some shippers to shift cargo to rail or air despite higher costs.
“If more drivers don’t enter the market soon, road freight rates will keep climbing through September,” Nowak cautioned. “That will ripple through every supply chain in Europe.”
