Driver shortage in haulage sector a risk to economy – Murphy

Urgent action to address the shortage of drivers in the haulage sector is needed to safeguard the movement of goods and protect Ireland’s economic resilience, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Michael Murphy, Chairperson of the Oireachtas Transport Committee said: “Ireland’s hauliers are the unsung heroes of our economy. They connect businesses in every county to our ports, airports, and international markets.

“With approximately 90% of goods in Ireland transported by road, any disruption to this network is a risk we simply cannot afford. The national haulage industry plays a critical role in maintaining the flow of food, medicines, raw materials, and exports. However, the sector is now facing a growing recruitment crisis, with a severe lack of qualified drivers putting strain on delivery timelines and operational capacity.

“Operators are concerned about the challenge in recruiting and retaining drivers. Unless we take clear, coordinated action now, we risk serious consequences for our supply chains and cost structures.”

Key concerns identified by the Oireachtas Transport Committee include:

• A shortage of domestic drivers, driven by an ageing workforce and a lack of new entrants to the profession.
• Barriers to international recruitment, including costly and time-consuming administrative processes across multiple Government Departments for hiring qualified drivers from abroad.
• Challenging working conditions that make long-term retention difficult, particularly for younger workers and new graduates.

“We need an all-of-Government response, working in partnership with industry, training providers and regulators to:

• Encourage more domestic drivers into the sector, the need to build a positive and constructive traineeship scheme in conjunction with the ETBs.
• Simplify and speed up international recruitment processes, reducing the cost and paperwork burden on employers to ensure that we have a functioning and effective Work Permit and Licence Exchange system.
• Improve conditions and supports for drivers across the board, including rest facilities, training access, and career development.

“This is not just a transport issue — it’s an economic issue. Hauliers keep Ireland running and they need our support. In my role Chair of the Committee, I will be engaging directly with Government departments and industry bodies on this to ensure this issue is resolved quickly,” concluded Deputy Murphy.