According to the Ministry of Development (2025 data), the market has a shortage of 30,000–40,000 category CE drivers. Out of approximately 130,000 heavy goods vehicles, about a third are idle for this exact reason. Fleet owners state plainly: the trucks are new, there are orders, but there is no one to get behind the wheel.
In 2026, another factor was added: Ukrtransbezpeka is testing automatic control of legal driver employment. Illegal hiring can cost a carrier their license. Some drivers previously deliberately avoided official employment because it is tied to military registration.
For the market, this means three things:
1. The driver becomes the main resource, not the truck.
2. Transparent hiring is turning from a formality into a condition for operating.
3. Companies that invest in working conditions and employee training will win.
And how do you retain and attract drivers: salary, schedule, benefits package, training?