Aid for Heavy Vehicle Licenses, a Necessary Measure to Address Driver Shortage

The shortage of professional drivers in Spain is a critical bottleneck for the economy, threatening the supply chain and the transport of goods and passengers. Recognizing the urgency, the Government has activated the “Reconduce” Plan, a strategy by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MITMS) to attract talent to a sector with an unmet demand of around 30,000 truck drivers and 4,700 bus drivers, according to European estimates. The high initial investment required to obtain Class C (truck) and Class D (bus) licenses is a major barrier, deterring many potential candidates.
The most tangible recent measure is the approval of a Royal Decree subsidizing up to €3,000 of the costs of obtaining these licenses. The aid, managed directly by the MITMS with an initial budget of €500,000, covers training, exam fees, license issuance, and the medical-psychological test. It is prioritized for those who already hold a Technical Driving Qualification, students of that vocational course, or holders of the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). Beneficiaries will have one year, extendable, to obtain the license after application.
This initiative is not isolated. It is part of a broader effort that includes, for example, regional subsidies such as those in the Community of Madrid, and aligns with European measures like facilitating access and the future implementation of the digital driver’s license. The dual objective is clear: to alleviate the financial burden on future drivers and modernize the image of a vital profession. In parallel, the MITMS has launched awareness campaigns to improve the social perception of the sector and highlight its job opportunities.
Analysts and transport associations welcome the aid positively, recognizing it as a crucial incentive to mitigate the economic barrier. However, they warn that solving the structural deficit requires going further. Specialists such as those from the National Road Transport Organization (OTR) stress that retaining new drivers requires addressing other deterrent factors: improving working conditions, rationalizing work and rest times, and greater professionalization. In short, the aid is a necessary catalyst for entry, but the sustainability of the sector will depend on the profession being perceived as attractive and with long-term prospects, ensuring a decent quality of life for its workers.