Skills shortages threaten growth in Europe’s abnormal load transport sector

An ageing workforce, skills shortages and fragmented regulation are critical challenges facing Europe’s heavy transport and lifting industry, despite generally positive expectations for market growth. The findings come from a study commissioned by the European association of abnormal road transport and mobile cranes (ESTA) and conducted by researchers at the University of Parma.

It is understood to be the first major academic examination of the sector in more than a decade.

Shortages of qualified personnel and an ageing workforce were identified by companies as significant obstacles. Respondents specifically highlighted difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified drivers, crane operators and specialised lifting personnel, as well as attracting younger people to the industry.

Regulatory complexity is another major concern, with the involvement of multiple authorities, insufficient digitalisation and a lack of harmonised rules across Europe all identified as constraints on operational efficiency and competitiveness. For road transport operators, permit procedures were criticised for their high costs, lengthy processing times and uncertainty, which can make project planning difficult.

This story was originally published by Project Cargo Journal. Read the full story at Project Cargo Journal →