Three hundred truck drivers in Morocco will receive training to prepare for jobs in Italy and Romania under a new EU-backed programme. The training is part of the Skilled Driver Mobility for Europe 2 project, which will train 600 drivers in total. Egypt will train the other 300. The programme is designed to help European countries deal with a shortage of truck drivers while giving drivers from Morocco and Egypt a legal way to work in the EU.
The International Road Transport Union (IRU) said the project will create “legal mobility pathways based on market demand for professional drivers between North Africa and the EU.”
Drivers will receive technical and language training before they move. The programme will also help them find employers and complete the legal steps needed to work in Italy or Romania.
Training will include safe driving, fuel-efficient driving, securing cargo and using digital tachographs. Drivers will also learn Italian or Romanian as part of their preparation.
The programme will continue supporting drivers after they arrive. This includes help with employment and integration, with IRU members involved in the process.
Patrick Philipp, Director of Certification and Standards at the IRU, described the programme as “a win-win solution”.
“It helps Italy and Romania address driver shortages, while simultaneously boosting skills and employment prospects for professional drivers in Egypt and Morocco,” he said.
European road transport companies are struggling to find enough drivers.
The shortage is estimated at more than 500,000 drivers. About 65% of European road transport operators say a lack of drivers is their biggest challenge.
Two-thirds of operators have also had to reject new transport contracts because they did not have enough drivers.
The workforce is also getting older. The average professional truck driver in Europe is 47, while more than 30% of drivers are expected to retire over the next 10 years.
Women make up less than 6% of truck drivers in the EU, leaving companies with a relatively small pool of potential workers.
Italy needs more than 22,000 commercial drivers. Romania also faces shortages as many Romanian drivers leave for better-paid jobs with companies in western Europe.
The shortage matters because road transport carries more than 75% of inland freight in Europe. A lack of drivers can lead to delays and higher transport costs for businesses.
The project will run from June 2026 to December 2028.
The EU is funding the project through its migration programmes. The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is the contracting authority, while GOPA PACE is coordinating the project.
The Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Soleterre and ICAR are also involved. The IRU is responsible for training standards and technical support.
