On April 18, 2016, a nationwide social campaign called Professional Drivers was launched, providing free training for young truck drivers. Its goal is to improve the qualifications of professional drivers and support the Polish transport and logistics industry, which is struggling with a shortage of properly trained drivers. Data from carriers shows that the industry needs approximately 30,000 new professional drivers annually. The Professional Drivers campaign was initiated by: Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks, Michelin, and Wielton.
The campaign is aimed at young drivers who already hold a C+E category driving license but lack practical experience in the transport market. As part of the Professional Drivers project, free training sessions will be launched to improve the qualifications of young professional drivers and help them gain the experience necessary to find employment in transport and logistics companies. Registration for the free training has been open since April 18 via the form available on the website profesjonalnikierowcy.pl.
The first stage of the campaign includes four training sessions scheduled from May to September 2016. The course is divided into two parts. The first is theoretical training on economical, safe, and defensive driving. Participants will also gain knowledge about the rules governing drivers’ work. The second part is practical training on first aid principles and, above all, on improving driving skills
with a truck and semi-trailer. The training will be conducted by the best instructors in the country.
Drivers will undergo practical training on trucks provided by the campaign partners – Volvo and Renault Trucks with Wielton semi-trailers and equipped with Michelin tires. Information about individuals who successfully obtain the prestigious “Professional Driver” certificate will be added to a database accessible to the largest transport and logistics companies in the country. This will increase their chances of securing stable and financially attractive employment in major, prestigious international companies.
– Both the drivers participating in our training and their employers – transport and logistics companies – will benefit from the Professional Drivers campaign. Thanks to our support, young truck drivers specially trained by us will appear on the market this year. Volvo Trucks and the other campaign partners cover the costs of the training provided under the project. It is also worth emphasizing the social dimension of this campaign – says Wilhelm Rożewski, Marketing Manager responsible for the Volvo Trucks brand within Volvo Group Trucks Sales, Baltic Sea Market. – At Volvo Trucks, we are actively involved in national, regional, and global projects aimed at making road transport safer. Our participation in the Professional Drivers campaign and the road safety modules included in the program are a perfect example of this – he adds.
The insufficient number of professional drivers on the market is currently one of the biggest problems for the transport and logistics industry. Carrier estimates show that the industry needs 30,000 new professional drivers annually. According to official data, 40 percent of the 700,000 currently employed drivers are over 65 years old. This means that if intensive efforts are not made to train new drivers, the industry will face an even greater problem that could paralyze the operations of transport and logistics companies. This, in turn, could affect the development of the entire Polish economy, as the transport industry significantly determines economic growth and job creation. Transport accounts for as much as 10 percent of GDP. Data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS) shows that in 2013, Polish companies held a 25 percent share of the international transport market in the European Union, making Poland the leader, ahead of Spain and Germany.