A 17-year-old boy climbs into a truck in Kutch, starts the engine and drives away to deliver goods. For many people, this may sound shocking. But for transporters in Gujarat, such incidents are becoming more common as they struggle to find enough truck drivers.
The shortage of truck drivers has become one of the biggest challenges for India’s logistics industry. Companies are no longer worried about finding highly skilled drivers—they are simply trying to find anyone willing to drive. As the manufacturing, e-commerce and infrastructure sectors continue to grow, transporters are asking an important question: Who will drive the vehicles that keep India’s economy moving?
Industry estimates suggest that India currently has nearly 60 lakh active trucks but only around 36 lakh drivers, bringing the truck-to-driver ratio down to nearly 55 drivers for every 100 trucks. This gap is affecting businesses across Gujarat and the country.
A Long-Ignored Problem
More than ten years ago, the Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) proposed setting up a dedicated commercial driver training institute at Ratnal in Kutch. However, the project never moved forward because it did not receive government support.
The issue is especially important for Kutch, which houses the major ports of Mundra and Kandla and accounts for nearly 30% of India’s diesel consumption due to heavy transport activity.
Nitin Dossa, Executive Chairman of WIAA, said that restoring dignity to the profession and providing proper driver training is the need of the hour. According to him, salaries for commercial drivers in some sectors begin at around ₹15,000, while trained drivers can earn much higher. He also said that women should be encouraged and trained to join the profession.
Thousands of Trucks Sitting Idle
The shortage is already reducing the number of vehicles on the road. Mukesh Dave, President of the Akhil Gujarat Truck Transporters’ Association (AGTTA), said Gujarat has nearly 13 to 14 lakh commercial vehicles, but around 20-25% of the fleet remains unused because drivers are unavailable.
He said the number of commercial vehicles has increased rapidly, but fewer young people are choosing truck driving as a career. Large fleet operators are facing the biggest difficulties, while owner-driven vehicles are relatively less affected.
Even transport companies with large fleets are unable to fully utilise their vehicles. A fleet owner with 100 trucks may have 10 to 20 trucks parked simply because there are no drivers available, reducing transport capacity during periods of high demand and increasing operating costs.
Why Young People Are Avoiding Truck Driving
Transporters say the profession has become less attractive for the younger generation. Several reasons are discouraging people from becoming truck drivers:
Young people prefer jobs closer to home.
Long working hours and poor work-life balance make the profession less appealing.
Many truck drivers do not want their children to follow the same career.
Truck driving is increasingly seen as a low-status and physically demanding job.
Limited healthcare facilities affect drivers’ well-being.
Poor highway infrastructure, including a lack of clean toilets, safe parking areas and rest facilities, makes long-distance driving difficult.
Inadequate CNG refuelling infrastructure also limits operations for many commercial vehicles.
Driver shortages become even worse during festival and wedding seasons.
Migration Patterns Have Changed
Navghan Ahir, President of the Shree Kutch Jilla Truck Owners’ Association, said transporters in Kutch traditionally depended on drivers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.
However, many drivers have now returned to their home states, where employment opportunities have improved and agriculture has become more profitable.
At the same time, many Gujaratis are reluctant to enter the profession because it requires spending long periods away from home. As a result, transport companies are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit drivers.
Bigger Trucks Have Reduced the Impact
Although the shortage continues, transporters say the shift towards larger trucks has helped reduce some of the pressure.
The increasing use of 10-tonne, 14-tonne and 28-tonne trucks allows operators to transport larger loads with fewer vehicles and fewer drivers.
Mukesh Dave said that without this increase in vehicle capacity, the impact of the driver shortage could have reached 40-50%.
Still, the problem has not disappeared. Companies often assign new trucks first because drivers prefer modern vehicles that are more reliable, offer better comfort and break down less frequently. Older trucks are left parked, reducing overall fleet utilisation.
Professional Training Seen as the Solution
Industry leaders believe the profession needs structured training and greater recognition.
Sunil Bhatt, President of the Dahej Industries Association, suggested introducing three to six-month certified driver training courses, similar to vocational courses offered in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
According to him, proper certification would improve driving skills, increase responsibility, enhance the profession’s image and attract educated young people. He said both the government and industry must work together to make truck driving a respected career. The industry is also calling for:
Expansion of certified driver training programmes.
Better highway facilities, including toilets, parking and rest areas.
Improved healthcare services for drivers.
Stronger road infrastructure.
Expansion of the CNG refuelling network.
More driver training centres across the country.
More Drivers Becoming Business Owners
Easy vehicle finance is also changing the transport sector.
Instead of working as salaried drivers, many experienced drivers are taking loans to purchase their own commercial vehicles and become owner-operators. This trend is particularly visible in the small commercial vehicle segment, where demand for last-mile and intra-city deliveries is growing rapidly.
While this creates opportunities for drivers, transport companies say it has also increased competition and made it harder to hire and retain experienced staff.
Industries Feeling the Pressure
The shortage of drivers is now affecting manufacturers as well.
Industries are facing higher transport costs as freight rates rise and dispatch cycles become longer. Manufacturers say delays in moving raw materials and finished goods are disrupting production schedules, affecting cash flow and increasing warehouse expenses.
Late deliveries are also making it harder for companies to meet customer commitments, raising the risk of penalties and lost business.
Apurva Shah, Vice-President of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), said fewer drivers are willing to take long-distance routes, leading to delivery delays.
He added that buyers in states such as Kerala and West Bengal are increasingly choosing suppliers located closer to them to reduce logistics risks and ensure timely deliveries.
Manoj Anandpura, Director of Anand Petrochem in Bharuch, said increasing demand for drivers in northern states has further worsened the shortage in Gujarat.
Alpesh Patel, CMD of Knack Packaging Ltd., said companies are often forced to delay dispatches because many non-Gujarati drivers have moved back to their home states. He added that rail transport could become a stronger alternative if it provides efficient end-to-end logistics.
A Challenge That Needs Immediate Attention
The shortage of truck drivers is no longer just a transport industry problem—it is becoming an economic challenge. With thousands of trucks standing idle, industries facing delayed deliveries and logistics costs rising, the shortage is affecting the entire supply chain.
Industry leaders agree that better training, improved working conditions, stronger infrastructure and greater respect for the profession will be essential if India wants enough drivers to keep its rapidly growing economy moving.
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