The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced that the number of parcels handled in fiscal 2023 will be 5 billion, the highest number in nine consecutive years. In fiscal 2016, the number of parcels handled was 4 billion, so this is an increase of 1 billion in seven years. The number of parcels handled continues to increase, but the number of drivers has not. The number of drivers in Japan has remained stable at 840,000. Working conditions continue to worsen.
The reason why drivers cannot deliver efficiently is that they cannot immediately start loading and unloading even when they arrive at the collection and delivery destination. Subaru has begun to solve this problem. Subaru has switched to a system that unloading work on delivery trucks is done by its own staff. Subaru’s aim seems to be to help suppliers who have difficulty securing drivers and maintain Subaru’s entire logistics network. If unloading work is eliminated, it will be possible to secure new drivers. If the physical labor of unloading parts is eliminated, the areas in which senior and female drivers can work will expand. The driver shortage problem will also be resolved a little. Another cause of overcrowding of drivers’ work is the loading rate. The loading rate of domestic commercial trucks has fallen below 40%. This means that transportation is taking place with 40% of the load and 60% of the space. Previously, the weight of cargo shipped in one trip from factories and warehouses was 2.45 tons in 1990. It has dropped to 0.70 tons in 2021. The reason for this is small-lot and frequent deliveries. In a sense, what used to be delivered in one trip is now delivered three times. This burden is weighing on drivers in the form of overwork.
The key to solving the driver shortage problem seems to be to make it a task that anyone can do. It is to create an environment that drivers can concentrate on the work they carry. If drivers no longer have to load and unload cargo, securing senior and female drivers will also come into view. For the past few years, 840,000 drivers have been handling the ever-increasing parcels. However, in the current situation that young new entrants cannot be expected, preparing an environment that senior and female drivers can work is also an option. In addition, consumers are expected to tolerate slow delivery. If this can be done, the loading rate problem will be solved and an environmentally friendly and sustainable transportation system may be created.
