The Valladolid-based Spanish Freight Transport Companies Association, Asetra, has initiated a program to recruit a significant number of drivers from Peru to fill the shortage of professional drivers in the Spanish province. The organization, led by Virginia Muñoz, has signed a collaboration agreement with Galician consultancy firm Talento Grupo Internacional to source labor, primarily drivers and mechanics, from Peru.
According to the Ical news agency, more than 800 professional drivers are needed in the Valladolid region alone, while in the nearby Castilla y León area, around 50 kilometers to the east, the demand reaches 1,500 drivers. The Ical portal also reports that road freight transport is not an attractive career choice for young Spaniards, who are driven by different professional goals and are essentially unable to enter the sector due to the lack of generational turnover.
Peruvian drivers, on the other hand, are drawn to the opportunity of moving overseas, given the precarious working conditions they face at home. Peruvian salaries are notably low, with the average driver earning just 3,000 soles (€700). In addition, Peru lacks any regulation of driving hours, and many drivers, particularly in the mining sector, start their shifts at 7 a.m. without knowing when they will finish. They drive outdated vehicles and often have to sleep in shacks near the mines at the end of their long workdays. These drivers are not covered by health insurance, rarely return home, and frequently face attacks by armed gangs during their journeys.
Thanks to the agreement between Asetra and Talento Grupo, candidates will have the chance to pursue the dream of a better life and a brighter future for their families. At the same time, the 25 Spanish companies funding the project will be able to reduce their labor shortages and hire new employees. In recent weeks, the selection process for drivers and mechanics began for Avìciolas Manso, a Spanish transport company specializing in the transport of live birds. Asetra’s delegation traveled to Lima, where hundreds of candidates responded to Talento Grupo’s campaign, promoted on Facebook and TikTok. Talento Grupo will also handle all administrative and bureaucratic procedures for the selected workers.
The arrival of the selected Peruvian workers in Spain will be eased by the lack of language barriers and the preferential immigration agreement in place, which allows any Peruvian citizen to enjoy the same rights and opportunities as Spanish nationals. To work as professional drivers, the Peruvians will only need to obtain the CAP (Certificate of Professional Competence), mandatory for all professional drivers, which can be earned through a 35-hour course. To facilitate the workers’ adjustment to their new environment, Spanish companies will provide suitable housing and a team of psychologists to offer support during the first year of employment. It is estimated that over 100 drivers will be recruited in the coming months, with selections continuing into 2025.
Marco Martinelli
