As of March 23, 2026, Spain is grappling with a significant shortage of truck drivers, compelling Spanish transport companies to increasingly recruit from abroad. Morocco has emerged as a key source of qualified professionals to fill this gap, which poses a threat to the economic stability of the Iberian Peninsula. The Spanish Confederation of Goods Transport (CETM) estimates that there is currently a deficit of approximately 30,000 truck drivers in Spain. Given that the average age of these professionals is around 55 years, the sector anticipates a massive wave of retirements within the next decade, prompting employers to seek solutions beyond their borders.
According to data from the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), cited by _El País_, Morocco is one of the top suppliers of labor for this sector. In 2025, Spain recognized the equivalence of 1,867 heavy truck licenses (Type C) and 581 bus licenses (Type D) for Moroccan nationals, placing them just behind Peruvian drivers in terms of approved licenses. This strong influx of Moroccan drivers is driven by several factors, including geographic proximity and the prior establishment of some Spanish transport companies in Morocco. Additionally, the growing trend of relocating European industries to Morocco has facilitated the transportation of goods via trucks through the port of Algeciras.
Challenges in the Spanish Transport Sector
The lack of interest among young Spaniards in pursuing a career as truck drivers can be attributed to several challenges, such as the difficulty of balancing family and professional life, the demanding nature of the job, increasing cargo thefts, and the high cost of obtaining a license, which can amount to around 6,000 euros. Despite the almost guaranteed employment that follows, local candidates remain scarce. While industry leaders support international recruitment efforts, they have voiced concerns over the sluggish pace of administrative processes. They are calling on the government to simplify procedures for diploma validation and work permit acquisition, as the current timelines can delay a foreign driver from getting behind the wheel for nearly a year.
In the face of this chronic shortage of 30,000 truck drivers, Spain is now also looking towards Turkey to alleviate the crisis, sidelining earlier recruitment initiatives from Morocco. A new agreement is set to facilitate the large-scale arrival of Turkish drivers to stabilize a logistics sector where 10% of positions remain unfilled, subsequently jeopardizing the competitiveness and delivery timelines of the Spanish economy. This shift highlights the ongoing complexities in addressing labor shortages in the transport sector, as the government grapples with the balancing act of meeting industry demands while navigating local sentiments and labor market dynamics.
As reported by bladi.net.
