The growth of the logistics sector is creating more demand for drivers. After lean years in which hardly any new drivers were hired, demand is now high. A positive development is that for the first time in years, more young people also want to become truckers and are taking the MBO course.
Example of student growth is Drenthe College. This college saw the number of students double and expects this trend to continue in the coming year. The Scheepvaart- en Transport College in Rotterdam also saw a 75 per cent rise in applications to 224. The job guarantee works as the ultimate incentive for many young people.
Economy picks up
TLN sees several reasons why demand from the logistics sector for younger truckers has risen sharply. Transport companies are climbing further and further out of the doldrums and are growing, requiring more staff. An ageing population is another reason. More and more drivers are retiring soon and the gap they leave behind needs to be filled. "Until 2020, around 2,000 new professional goods drivers are needed per year as a result. So 10,000 in total," Renee Reijers of Transport en Logistiek Nederland told NOS. "So you are almost guaranteed to get a job."
Dutch drivers
Not yet satisfied
TLN does comment on the positive development. The industry organisation is happy that things are improving, but would like to see more female drivers behind the wheel.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
