The rapid and dramatic surge in fuel prices, triggered by the ongoing geopolitical instability in the Middle East, has so far affected road transport workers less immediately than other parts of the transport sector. This must not be mistaken for resilience. Road transport workers have been in a long-term structural crisis for many years, marked by poor working conditions, low wages, excessive working hours, and long periods away from home.
These conditions have already led to severe driver shortages in both freight and passenger transport. The fuel crisis is therefore not a new problem, but an additional stress test of a sector already under unsustainable pressure. Without structural change, shortages will worsen, and operators will increasingly rely on cheap labour from third countries. This crisis must be a wake-up call for policymakers and industry.
While the European Commission has responded with its AcceleratedEU communication of 22 April following industry calls for action, these measures remain largely reactive and overly reliant on the Member States and does not address the underlying structural problems in the road transport sector. This makes one wonder whether the European Union has real solutions for road transport, and transport in general. Short-term stabilisation measures are not enough. A long-term strategy is needed to address the root causes of the crisis. Therefore, our demands are the following:
- Modernise the European fleets
The road transport fleets must be modernised with a focus on safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Drivers must be fully involved in this transition and given access to training, reskilling, and upskilling. Fleet renewal must improve, not worsen, working conditions. Drivers’ jobs, wages, and working conditions must be protected, and emissions must be reduced through real investment in cleaner technologies.
At present, there are insufficient incentives or obligations to ensure that the transition is socially responsible and does not come at the expense of road transport workers. Manufacturers have highlighted challenges in electrification, including the high cost of electric trucks. This is particularly true for small operators working within complex subcontracting chains, which limits their investment capacity even further. This cost is ultimately used to justify slow uptake, while investment decisions are left to a fragmented sector where risks are passed down the chain.
- Social conditionality for public funding
Any EU or national financial support to road transport operators must be strictly conditional on compliance with applicable social, labour, and market rules. EU funding must exclude companies with a record of serious or repeated infringements. It is simple – Public money must not support social dumping practices.
- Promote local transport flows to improve drivers’ working conditions and the environment
A stronger focus on local and regional transport would reduce unnecessary long-haul operations. It would improve working conditions, allow drivers to return home more often, support local economies, and reduce the fuel consumption. It would also help tackle unfair competition and letterbox companies, creating a fairer and more sustainable road transport sector.
The EU road transport sector remains heavily dependent on long-distance operations and on posted and third-country national drivers. As a result, many drivers are forced to spend long periods on the road, unable to return home or maintain a decent quality of life. The EU Mobility Package introduced cabotage limits and return rules, but further action is needed to address the underlying reliance on long-distance transport and the social consequences this creates for drivers.
The fuel crisis has brought urgency to a debate that should have happened years ago. The ETF is calling on policymakers to use this moment to act on the sector’s future.
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