Because of Omikron: more and more truck drivers are falling out - soon empty shelves at Aldi, Rewe & Co.?

Created: 01/20/2022, 16:24

The logistics association BGL warns of delivery bottlenecks.

(Archive photo) © Anne Stubenrauchia/imago

The logistics industry warns that the increasing number of infections and corona failures of truck drivers are endangering the supply chains.

Retail is already preparing for impending outages.

Berlin - The German transport industry is warning of delivery bottlenecks in view of the increasing number of corona failures by truck drivers.

"The situation is very tense because we are missing more and more drivers," said Dirk Engelhardt, spokesman for the board of directors of the Federal Association of Road Haulage, Logistics and Disposal (BGL), on Thursday to the Reuters news agency.

"The sick leave is significantly higher because of Corona." In the current January it is about five to ten percentage points higher than usual at this time of the year in pre-crisis times.

Retailers prepare for staffing issues

"The supply chains are still stable, empty shelves are not yet a threat," said Engelhardt.

“But if the number of infections continues to go through the roof, they are at risk.” In view of the corona wave, retailers are preparing for personnel problems.

“The supply chains in Germany are currently working, even if there are occasional snags,” says the general manager of the industry association HDE, Stefan Genth, to Reuters.

"In view of the further increasing incidences, however, the retail trade has been preparing for a tense situation with staff absences for weeks." So deputy regulations and rotation models are already planned.

Both industry associations are calling on politicians to take precautions quickly in view of the increasing number of corona infections.

The number of new infections within 24 hours recently shot to a record of 133,536.

"There must be a crisis plan," said Engelhardt.

This can best be coordinated by the Federal Office for Goods Transport.

Engelhardt: "The lack of drivers is a big problem, even without Corona"

This can ensure that existing capacities can be used in order to be able to deliver everyday goods to supermarkets, drugstores, but also hospitals.

"It would be practical to divide the country into regions, as is the case with the hospitals," said the BGL board spokesman.

He also strongly recommends providing additional vaccination offers at truck stops and service areas.

"And for all drivers, regardless of nationality."

The HDE calls for the strict regulations on nightly delivery to be lifted, or at least relaxed in favor of the systemically important food trade. "It is also time to relax the Sunday work and driving bans as well as driving and rest times," said Genth. In order to be able to quickly find a replacement in the event of a massive shortage of staff, the legal conditions for temporary employment for short-term assignments should be made much faster and more flexible. This would allow employees from companies that currently do not have an intensive need for staff to be used as short-term temporary workers.

According to the BGL, many transport companies had to turn down orders before Christmas because there were no drivers.

"The lack of drivers is a big problem, even without Corona," said Engelhardt.

About 80,000 are currently missing in Germany.

According to the association, 30,000 to 35,0000 retire each year, but only 15,000 to 20,000 follow.

"So the gap is growing by 15,000 every year," says Engelhardt.

"After Corona, we have to get together with industry, food retailers, politicians and other stakeholders and look for solutions."

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