In recent years, the driver shortage has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges facing the global road transport industry, with tangible consequences for the continuity and quality of logistics services. Against this backdrop, Torello is actively contributing to the international dialogue promoted by IRU, the world road transport organisation.
A sector-wide structural challenge
The shortage of professional drivers remains one of the most pressing challenges in the freight transport industry, both in Italy and across Europe. For Torello, this is not merely a labour market issue, but a systemic challenge that also involves the timelines and complexity of the processes through which new drivers are trained and integrated into the company. In Italy, the driver shortage has not disappeared. For companies such as Torello, a member of IRU, identifying, selecting, and training new drivers is achievable; the real challenge lies in the time it takes for a candidate to become fully operational.
Recruitment and training: Torello’s strength
According to Vincenzo Loria, HR Generalist at Torello, our company has developed a well-established pathway that supports candidates through to full professional qualification, typically within a period of three to six months.
“Training is the area we manage best: we can help a candidate become a professional driver in just a few months.”
For Torello, as for many other companies in the industry, the real bottleneck is not the ability to train people, but rather the number of administrative steps required before a driver can become fully operational.
A complex certification framework
In Italy, professional drivers must obtain the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), a mandatory qualification for all professional drivers regardless of their country of origin. While essential, this requirement demands time and coordination, making it one of the key factors slowing the entry of new drivers into the sector.
In cases of international recruitment under Italy’s Flow Decree (Decreto Flussi), additional procedures related to visas and work permits must also be completed, further extending the overall timeline. Although these are not the only factors involved, they contribute to making the recruitment process more complex and time-consuming than in many other industries.
In summary, the main factors slowing the entry of new drivers into the industry include:
- The time required to obtain the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), a mandatory qualification for all professional drivers
- The complexity of the administrative procedures associated with recruitment and hiring
- The coordination required among the various authorities and bodies involved in the certification process
Torello’s proposal: more streamlined processes
For Torello, training and people development remain at the core of our strategy. At the same time, effectively meeting the growing demand for transport services requires administrative processes that are faster, clearer, and more accessible.
“A more streamlined process would not only benefit our company, but the entire transport sector, which needs to respond more quickly and efficiently to market demands.”
Simplifying the system means turning an operational challenge into an opportunity for growth—not only for Torello, but for the entire logistics and freight transport supply chain.
