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The logistics sector is booming. This upturn, however, is casting a long shadow as there is now a shortage of qualified truck drivers. And that’s not all: this trend could be exacerbated over the coming years as more and more older drivers retire. According to the statistics published by DEKRA, tens of thousands of lorry drivers will be needed in the near future. On the other hand, unemployment levels are extremely high in countries such as Spain and Greece which are still suffering from the effects of the financial crisis. Many companies, therefore, are looking abroad to recruit qualified truck drivers – among them HR representatives from REMONDIS’ south and south west regional companies and from FES in Frankfurt.
They are well trained, young and highly motivated and yet they do not have a job. With an unemployment rate of over 25 percent – and more than 50 percent for the under 25s – this development is perhaps not so surprising. As their career prospects at home are so bleak, many young and well qualified Spaniards are now prepared to learn German and leave their homeland for a while in order to take up a job in Germany. “We have found an experienced cooperation partner with the DEKRA Academy which is helping us to find suitable truck drivers from other countries,” explained Hans-Jörg Bopp, HR manager at Region Südwest, REMONDIS’ regional company responsible for the south west of Germany.
Daniel Lirola Medina (REMONDIS): Daniel Lirola Medina and Dario Marmolejo Castro joined REMONDIS this summer
Together with Maria Ettwein-Stern, HR manager at Region Süd, Nadja Haug, the person responsible for recruiting drivers at FES in Frankfurt, and two DEKRA employees, he visited the company FIMED, a personnel recruitment agency based in Valencia. There they first held interviews with seven people who had applied to be a truck driver. Later on in the day, they then took part in an information event where they gave a presentation about REMONDIS and the requirements of being a professional truck driver in the recycling sector. Around 40 potential applicants took part in the event as well as employees of local truck driving schools and the local press.
The company is being proactive in Rosenheim and training young people themselves to become professional truck drivers.
“The aim of our trip to Spain was to find out about how to recruit foreign specialists so that we can pass on this knowledge to other companies within the group. The interviews went particularly well – with both REMONDIS and FES wishing to employ six of the applicants,” explained Hans-Jörg Bopp.
Once they had shown that they had taken part in an intensive German language course, the applicants received contracts of employment, initially for a fixed period of two years. “We are really pleased with our new employees. Their qualifications, work ethic and commitment are absolutely in keeping with our expectations. There are still a few problems with their German but these can be ironed out as they will continue to take part in a language course,” concluded Hans-Jörg Bopp. The group is really pleased to be able to welcome these new employees to their team in Germany.
Carlos Valero is looking forward to his new tasks at FES