Radio ExpressTV
Live
Moroccan drivers are filling the gap in Spain amid a structural crisis in the transport sector.
Spain is facing an increasing shortage of truck drivers, attributed to escalating structural challenges within the freight transport sector, as reported by the Confederation of Spanish Freight Transport. This situation is primarily due to an aging workforce, with the average driver age around 55, signaling a wave of retirements in the next decade and placing the sector under pressure to ensure its continuity.
In this context, Moroccan professionals have emerged as a practical solution to this shortage. Data from Spain’s General Directorate of Traffic indicates that in 2025, 1,867 truck driving licenses (Category C) and 581 passenger transport licenses (Category D) were issued to Moroccan citizens. Consequently, Morocco ranks prominently among countries exporting drivers, just after Peru, highlighting the growing reliance on foreign labor within this vital sector.
This trend is driven by several factors, notably the declining attractiveness of driving careers for young Spaniards due to difficult working conditions, the imbalance between professional and personal life, and the high training costs, estimated at around €6,000 to obtain a truck driving license. These figures reflect profound shifts in the labor market and challenges in renewing the human resources.
However, integrating foreign drivers is not without difficulties. Industry professionals indicate that administrative procedures can take up to 12 months before a driver is fully authorized to work, limiting the sector’s responsiveness to market needs. Amidst the pressure of shortages and slow procedures, the sector must undertake structural reforms that balance the attraction of foreign talent while motivating the local workforce.
