Flows — 2022-12-08
Land transportation
More than 350 companies will participate in the Day of the Truck Driver on Thursday 8 December 2022. With this initiative, the professional federation Febetra hopes to boost appreciation for the profession.
In Belgium, more than 10,000 companies are active in road freight transport. Together they manage a fleet of more than 86,000 trucks and vans and represent more than 115,000 jobs.
Earn well
Still, there is work to be done. The vast majority of truck drivers face a lack of appreciation on a daily basis. A driver survey shows that only 18% of truck drivers think they receive sufficient appreciation. It has also proved even more difficult to fill vacancies in the logistics sector in recent months. According to Febetra, there are at least five thousand vacancies for drivers in our country.
Based on VDAB figures, SD Worx even speaks of seven thousand vacancies. According to the HR service provider, there are many misunderstandings about the profession. “Those who want to work hard can also earn very well as a truck driver. Whether you like fixed working days or adventurous international transport. There is something for everyone,” says Sofie De Keersmaecker, advisor to SD Worx. “On January 1, pay scales in PC 140.03 (which also includes courier services) increase by 10.96%. For a driver who drives a trailer of more than 15 tons, the minimum hourly wage will then rise from €12.92 per hour to €14.34 per hour. In addition, each job will be classified in a new job category, which can also mean an increase.”
Coffee or ticket
To create more appreciation for the profession, Febetra organizes the 'Day of the Truck Driver'. More than 350 companies are participating. In many places the drivers receive a gift ranging from a cup of coffee to a snack or card. “Our ultimate ambition is for truck drivers to feel respected and valued every day of the year. With this day we want to flood Belgium with as many local actions as possible in companies and contribute to the awareness-raising process that without truck drivers the world will stop turning," says Philippe Degraef, director of Febetra.
Trade union
In addition to Febetra, the transport union BTB has also been organizing its own 'Day of the Truck Driver' since 2019. Militants handed drivers who passed by their company a small gift. BTB advocates higher wages. “With a higher wage you can earn a decent salary in a normal working week of 38 hours and the work-life balance is in balance. It will make the profession attractive to young people.”
The article is automatically translated in English. Read the original version in Dutch here.