IRU member the Swedish Bus and Coach Federation has launched a new campaign to tackle the chronic shortage of bus and coach drivers by simplifying access to training and attracting new talent.
IRU has repeatedly stressed the urgent need to tackle Europe’s shortage of professional bus and coach drivers, which grew by 54% from 2022 to 2023.
The Swedish Bus and Coach Federation has launched a new campaign to overcome this challenge by identifying barriers to entry and streamlining the application process for bus and coach driver training.
IRU Passenger Transport Council Vice President and Deputy CEO of the Swedish Bus and Coach Federation Anna Grönlund said, “The driver shortage is a primary concern for most companies in the bus and coach sector, especially in Europe.”
“The impact of the pandemic and existing legislation have made it extremely challenging to attract and employ young people to the profession,” she added.
The national campaign, focused on promoting the bus and coach driver profession and attracting new talent, will run throughout 2024 and into the first half of 2025.
Prospective drivers can benefit from the national campaign's extensive advertising on social media, digital platforms and physical locations, which not only simplify access to tailored training information but also aim to improve the profession's image through interactive activities and educational content.
Easing access to the profession
IRU's driver shortage report highlights a severe and escalating shortage of bus and coach drivers across Europe, driven by increased transport demand and an ageing driver population. The shortage is expected to nearly triple by 2028 if no significant action is taken.
In many European countries, the minimum driving age for passenger transport is between 21 and 24. The “school-to-wheel gap” is a key barrier to attracting new drivers. Moreover, becoming a driver is also expensive due to high licence, training and insurance costs.
To address these challenges, IRU advocates lowering the minimum driving age, removing the 50-kilometre limit for young bus drivers, and providing financial subsidies for training and licensing.
These measures aim to make the profession more accessible and appealing, thereby mitigating the driver shortage crisis and ensuring the sustainability of Europe’s transport sector.