When the shelves stay empty

Will there soon be a shortage of truck drivers in Germany, as can already be seen in the UK? Prof. Dr. Stefan Rock, Professor of Retail Management and Retail Logistics at THI Business School, conducted a large-scale survey of more than 1,100 truck drivers to find out how satisfied they are with their job. The aim was to find out which factors make the job attractive or unattractive and which conditions have to be met in order to be able to attract sufficient young talent in the future.

If the logistics and transport industry were to be short of truckers in a few years' time, this would have a massive impact on the day-to-day availability of goods such as fresh food, fuel, spare parts and much more. While it would be possible to compensate for the lack of drivers by loading trucks more efficiently or avoiding empty runs, this would only be possible to a certain extent.

In the survey, many truckers expressed dissatisfaction with pay, the behavior of other road users or the high deadline pressure, for example. They demanded higher pay from employers, but also individualization of vehicle equipment or payment for driver's licenses. At the same time, politicians would have to create other framework conditions, such as improving the parking situation or more driver-friendly solutions for night and weekend rest, for example.

The survey took place over a period of three weeks and was conducted online.