Truck fleets forced to park trucks as certified drivers run short

Trucking group calls for streamlined TESDA certification and review of LTO licensing rules amid driver qualification bottleneck.

Trucking groups are warning that operations are being held back by a growing shortage of qualified and certified drivers, with some fleets reportedly unable to deploy up to three in every 10 hauling trucks due to a lack of personnel who meet licensing and certification requirements.

The Haulers and Truckers Association in the Watersouth Inc. (HATAW) is calling on government agencies to speed up driver certification and make it easier for new entrants to qualify for commercial driving roles. At present, strict requirements, including a four-year experience rule before upgrading to a higher license category under the Land Transportation Office, are slowing down the entry of fresh drivers into the sector.

HATAW president Ferdinand Manebo said many experienced drivers are retiring, while others are being drawn abroad by stronger demand in the Middle East and Europe. “Masisipag din kasi sila,” he said, referring to Filipino drivers being recruited overseas.

The group is urging TESDA to expand certification support and for regulators to revisit licensing requirements, saying current processes are not keeping pace with demand from logistics and hauling firms that move goods across the country.

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