Continental expressed its support for the Government’s financial aid for new drivers in Spain – a measure that the transport sector considers necessary but not sufficient.
About the Initiative
The Government’s initiative to subsidise new truck and bus driving licences in Spain comes at a time when almost three out of four transport companies (73%) acknowledge difficulties in hiring drivers, according to the latest study by Continental and Fenadismer.
The study reveals that the main priorities for the sector are improving working conditions (70%) and implementing more efficient logistics models (60%), ranking above training subsidies (27%).
The Council of Ministers has approved a support programme to obtain truck and bus driving licences, in response to the serious shortage of professional drivers in the transport sector. The Government will allocate €500,000 in grants of up to €3,000 per person, addressing a real market need, with an estimated deficit of 30,000 truck drivers and 4,700 bus drivers in Spain, Continental reports.
This measure, part of the “Reconduce Plan”, aims to mitigate the growing shortage of professionals — a challenge already highlighted by Continental and Fenadismer in the second edition of their annual report “Current Challenges in Road Transport.” The report described a critical situation, with only 11% of operators finding it easy to recruit and hire new drivers.
One Piece of the Puzzle
While financial aid for entering the profession is one of the solutions identified by transport professionals (27% of respondents in Continental’s study mentioned it as a way forward), the report indicates that the sector’s long-term priorities lie elsewhere.
According to the findings, the most highly valued solutions for tackling the driver shortage are:
- Improving working conditions (70%)
- Implementing more efficient logistics models (60%)
- Bringing forward the retirement age to 60 (56%)
This shows that, while attracting new talent is essential, retaining current professionals and improving their working conditions are equally vital.
In this context, technology and digitalisation are emerging as key allies. Tools such as route optimisation, fleet management systems, and the smart tachograph not only improve the efficiency of logistics operations but also help enhance drivers’ working conditions, reduce stress, and facilitate work–life balance.
“It’s excellent news that the Government is taking steps to attract new talent to a profession that is essential,” says Antonio Sangüesa, Head of Fleet Solutions and Services at Continental. “However, it’s not only about training new drivers — it’s about making the profession more attractive and sustainable in the long term. Technology is a key enabler, and at Continental we’re working to provide solutions — from fuel-efficient tyres to smart tachographs and fleet management systems — that make the driver’s daily work safer, more efficient, and more comfortable.”
