During the next year it will be necessary to increase the number of coach and truck transport drivers in the Balearic Islands by about 200 people if problems are to be avoided when providing tourist or freight transport services, according to Rafael Roig, president of the Balearic federation that groups the companies of the sector (FEBT) and its association of the private sector, Rafael Roig. His counterpart in the freight sector, Ezequiel Horrach, shares the statement, but raises its scope: “In my opinion, Rafael Roig has fallen short, and the deficit we suffer is greater”.

The two business representatives recognize that during this year they have been overwhelmed by the strong demand and the lack of availability of drivers, aggravated in the case of freight transport by the protests that took place in this sector during the month of March. And although they point out the possibility that during 2023 the tourist season will have a lower intensity than this year, due to the uncertainties that inflation and the energy crisis have opened in issuing countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom, both point out that this increase in the number of drivers will be necessary if problems are to be avoided.

El transporte precisa 200 chรƒยณferes mรƒยกs para no tener problemas en 2023 The Transport industry needs 200 more drivers to avoid problems in 2023

For Ezequiel Horrach, the key moment for the transport of goods will be registered in his sector during the month of April, at the beginning of the season and the reopening of many establishments that want to fill their warehouses again, which multiplies the risk of registering a collapse.

In the case of discretional (tourist) transport, the two most conflictive moments according to Rafael Roig: June and September. The reason is that during these months there is activity in school transport and tourist transport is already at high season levels, and the breaks required by legislation for drivers make it very difficult to combine both activities in a context of weakened workforces.

Aging transport driver workforce

The two presidents of the two employers’ associations point out that the sector faces a very serious problem when it comes to replacing personnel. The current group of drivers is largely the result of obtaining a free license to drive these larger vehicles while doing military service, and is already noticeably aged, with a significant rate of departures due to retirement. But young people are joining this profession in dribs and drabs for a fundamental reason: obtaining the license to drive trucks or coaches costs about 5,000 euros, according to them.

These business organizations point out that the Govern is aware of this problem and will subsidize obtaining these professional licenses, but admit that, even if the final cost is lowered, it will still be difficult to afford by the majority of young people, whose economic resources are very limited.