In July 2025, the Spanish associationFenadismer publicly advanced the proposal to allow self-employed haulage drivers to retire at 55. The proposal follows the publication in May of Royal Decree 402/2025 by the Spanish government, which has opened the door to lowering the retirement age in professions marked by particularly strenuous or hazardous conditions. Fenadismer's proposal is backed by the Catalan affiliate Agct and the Department of Territories and Habitat of the Generalitat de Catalunya. The next step will be to present the initiative to other haulage associations, with the aim of filing an official request with the Ministry of Social Security.
This measure stems from an in-depth analysis of working conditions and the specific risks involved in road haulage, especially for the self-employed. Data gathered by Fenadismer and Agct show that the share of self-employed workers in this sector is more than double the average in other parts of the economy, with one in three hauliers working independently. This results in heavier operational and managerial workloads and lower levels of social protection.
The early retirement proposal considers not only the physical and mental demands of professional driving – which require constant attention, quick reflexes and high stress tolerance – but also the heightened exposure to psychosocial risks that typify self-employment. Independent hauliers are responsible for every aspect of their business, from logistics to bookkeeping, without enjoying the guarantees and protections granted to employees.
In 2024, Spain's transport and storage sector recorded 41,132 workplace accidents during working hours, including 138 fatal incidents. This made it the second most deadly sector, with a fatality rate of 12.60 deaths per 100,000 workers, surpassed only by mining. The accident rate is 297% higher than the national average. These figures underline how dangerous the haulage profession is and provide a strong rationale for exceptional measures such as early access to retirement.
To implement the measure without placing undue burden on workers, the plan includes a modest increase in contribution rates: 0.31% more for industrial vehicle drivers and 0.15% more for other self-employed hauliers. However, Fenadismer is requesting that 80% of this increase be funded by the state, following the same model used in the contribution system for employees, who only bear a minimal share of the total amount.
According to the association, it is neither fair nor sustainable to expect already overburdened and vulnerable individuals to shoulder the full financial cost of a measure that concerns their health, safety and professional dignity. The report also highlights the need for a fairer balance in social benefits: currently, the average pension for a self-employed person is 40% lower than that of an employee. This is a direct result of a historically disadvantageous contribution system (Reta) and the full individual responsibility for covering one's own contributions.
Among the complementary measures proposed by Fenadismer is the extension of partial retirement rights to the self-employed, a scheme that until now has been reserved exclusively for employed drivers. This would allow for a gradual transition out of work, helping to reduce the risk of accidents among older workers and improving quality of life in the final stages of their careers.
