Although years ago the drivers of trucks hired by Romanian companies were exclusively Romanian, the only foreign drivers on Romania's roads being the employees of companies from other countries, most often Turkish and Ukrainian, today the labor shortage is felt in this sector as well.
But that's not to say that the authorities haven't been aware of the situation for some time, since freight transport employers announced as early as 2022 that they had a shortage of almost 70,000 truck drivers.
It is no less true that weather The authorities tried to boost the sector by passing a law allowing companies to hire 18-21 year-olds as truck and truck drivers, but transport company managers were reluctant and many actually refused to hand over their tens of thousands of euros worth of vehicles to "young people".copies".
As a result, the situation that started some time ago has perpetuated itself, with Romania now having to bring 900 truck drivers from non-EU countries as part of the quota of 90,000 foreign workers approved for 2026, far below the real need.
As for the countries from which they will come, apart from the Philippines, a destination known for the professionalism of this type of workers, according to experts in the field, where around 600 of the 900 drivers will come from, the rest will be brought from Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
"Romania is currently facing a real shortage of truck drivers. Although for a long time this profession has been a favorite of Romanians, the economic and social context has radically changed the situation. More and more drivers are choosing to go abroad, not just for higher salaries, but for a better package of benefits: more stable health and education systems, lower taxes and a general level of predictability that is often lacking in Romania," Yosef Gavriel Peisakh, General Manager Work from Asia, explained to Ziare.com.
On the other hand, it also shows that the job remains financially attractive, but the differences are significant depending on the type of activity.
Thus, explains Peisakh, for drivers posted on international flights in the European Union, incomes can exceed €2,500 per month, which is the minimum threshold.
However, when working exclusively in Romania, salaries generally range between €850 and €1,500, which makes it considerably less attractive compared to other EU countries.
"Most Romanian drivers left Romania precisely because of the salaries in the European Union, which can reach up to €4,000. At the same time, Romania has become an attractive destination for foreign workers. There are people who come from countries where salaries are around €200 and who, working here, can earn up to ten times more. This is therefore a natural phenomenon of the labor market, influenced by the wage differentials between countries", continues the specialist.
At the same time, he also points out that the interest in this profession has visibly increased since Romania's accession to Schengen, especially from drivers from outside the European Union.
Last but not least, it also points out that the 900 TIR driver posts for 2026 cover both domestic and international transport, including community runs.
"According to our information, there are currently no official statistics indicating exactly how many TIR drivers are active in Romania at any given time. However, recent data from the Romanian Road Authority indicates that there are approximately 348,000 professional drivers certified for road haulage, a category which also includes TIR drivers. This figure reflects the total number of people certified, not those actually working, many of whom are posted to other EU countries or working on a temporary basis. At the same time, the labor shortage in transport is estimated at tens of thousands of drivers," says Yosef Gavriel Peisakh.
On the other hand, it also shows that Romania is currently not the most attractive country in the EU for TIR drivers, with long waiting times for work permits and visas and relatively lower salaries compared to other EU countries contributing to this.
At the same time, the specialist adds that Romania remains an attractive option for Asian truck drivers due to high demand, contract stability and the increasing openness of employers to international recruitment.
"In addition, professional integration is faster and living costs are more affordable compared to other EU countries. For many candidates, Romania represents a solid and secure entry point into the European transport market", he concludes.
