Girteka, a major European transport company, is transferring a portion of its operational base to Riga, Latvia, and Oradea, Romania. This strategic decision involves setting up new local entities and registering trucks in both nations. The company cites a critical shortage of professional drivers across Europe as the primary catalyst for this shift, alongside the need to adapt to changing labor market conditions, rising operational costs, and new regulatory frameworks.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this development signals a continued tightening in road freight capacity, particularly in Western Europe. The relocation of assets and personnel by a major carrier like Girteka could lead to adjustments in lead times and potentially impact road freight rates, especially for routes originating or terminating in Central and Eastern Europe. Forwarders should monitor capacity availability and pricing trends in these regions closely. It also highlights the ongoing challenge of driver recruitment and retention, which continues to influence operational strategies across the logistics industry.
