Foreign truck drivers help keep wheels turning for Japan's economy amid labor shortages
WAKAYAMA -- In Japan's trucking industry, long a lifeline for the economy, foreign drivers are becoming an increasingly visible presence.In 2024, the
Wakayama, Japan -- As Japan's trucking industry faces severe labor shortages, foreign drivers are becoming more prevalent. In 2024, the Japanese government expanded the Specified Skilled Worker residency status to include automobile transport. Major transport companies are actively hiring foreign workers, while smaller operators scramble to secure drivers.
For 30-year-old Indonesian driver Ginanjar, the balance between work and family life in Japan is a challenge. He drives for Toba Logistics, a small to midsize operator in Wakayama Prefecture. Despite challenges like adapting to the Kansai dialect and memorizing routes, Ginanjar appreciates the scenic views of Japan's four seasons and the safety of driving on courteous roads.
The Specified Skilled Worker system, created in 2019, has been instrumental in attracting foreign workers to industries facing labor shortages.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
