Japanese transport industry looks to Vietnam and Indonesia to solve the problem of human resource shortage

Amid a severe labor shortage, logistics and transportation companies in Japan are increasingly recruiting foreign workers as drivers, after the industry was added to the list of industries eligible for special work visas.

Nhật Bản tăng cường tuyển dụng lao động nước ngoài làm tài xế

The recruitment of foreign workers is increasing as Japan's transportation industry faces a severe shortage of drivers. (Source: Getty Images)

To obtain a “specified skills” certificate in the transportation sector, workers must pass an exam on Japanese traffic laws and industry-specific cargo handling methods. The first exam was held in December 2024 and more than 200 people have already passed.

Hiroshima-based Fukuyama Transporting Co. is training drivers in Vietnam, providing Japanese language courses and driving tests. Candidates will come to Japan as technical intern trainees, receive support to obtain a Japanese driver’s license, and receive language training to qualify for a “specified skills” certification. The company plans to hire about 15 drivers by the summer of 2026 for long-haul routes.

Meanwhile, Sakai Moving Service has begun recruiting through a human resources agency in Indonesia. After interviews and assessments, the Osaka-based company plans to hire more than 10 drivers aged 20-40, who will start working from August. After arriving in Japan, Sakai will support them in learning Japanese and converting their driver's licenses. These drivers are expected to start working from March 2026, right in the peak season of the transportation industry.

Senko Group Holdings aims to recruit 100 drivers under the specified visa category by fiscal 2032. The company will provide driver licensing and language training at its training facilities in Chiba and Shiga prefectures. A group unit will handle immigration and visa renewal issues.

The recruitment of foreign workers is increasing as Japan's transportation industry faces a serious shortage of drivers.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, truck drivers work about 20% more hours per year than the average, but earn about 10% less per year. As Japan’s population declines, a representative for Sakai Moving said that “domestic recruitment is becoming increasingly difficult.”

In April 2024, the Japanese government issued a regulation limiting truck drivers’ overtime to a maximum of 960 hours per year. Without special measures, commercial trucking capacity will fall 34% short of demand by fiscal 2030, according to NX Logistics Research and Consulting Institute.

The “specified skills” program for labor-shortage industries allows for the hiring of skilled foreign workers, including nursing care. The motor transport industry was added to the list in March 2024 and is expected to hire up to 24,500 foreign workers from fiscal 2024 to 2028.

However, some industry segments may not take advantage of this program, such as courier services where drivers need to interact directly with customers upon delivery.

Amid a severe labor shortage, logistics and transportation companies in Japan are increasingly recruiting foreign workers as drivers, after the industry was added to the list of industries eligible for special work visas.

Comment (0)