A move towards more consistent truck fleets could play a critical role in improving safety, efficiency and driver retention across Europe’s logistics sector, according to experts at Girteka Training.
The call comes as the industry faces a deepening driver shortage, with 426,000 unfilled positions across Europe—more than double the level recorded two years ago.
That figure could rise to over 745,000 by 2028 if structural challenges persist, with an ageing workforce and limited numbers of younger drivers entering the profession.
While operators have responded by increasing wages—rising by 4–5% annually across the EU—Girteka Training argues that pay alone does not address operational performance or retention.
Instead, the company highlights fleet inconsistency as a hidden but significant cost factor.
Many operators continue to rotate drivers between different truck models, a practice that can negatively impact both safety and efficiency, the company points out.
Žilvinas Perednis, training activity development manager at Girteka Training, said that drivers build familiarity with specific vehicles over time, including their controls, braking behaviour and driver assistance systems.
“A driver who has spent months in, say, a Volvo FH, gets to know its controls, digital interface, braking feel, and lane assist behavior like the back of his hand.
“Put that same driver in a MAN TGX for one run and then a Mercedes-Benz Actros for the next, and driving suddenly becomes much more demanding.
“The risk of small errors goes up, and so does fuel consumption – after all, eco-driving techniques are vehicle-specific,” he explained.
The importance of standardisation is also being reflected in procurement trends. ClassTrucks reports growing demand from operators for uniform fleets, as a way of reducing retraining requirements and improving operational consistency.
Algirdas Radauskas, Class Trucks Lithuanian sales department manager, said: “What we see from buyers is that having a uniform fleet is increasingly becoming a purchasing criterion in its own right.
“A few years ago, a logistics company buying 10 trucks would take whatever was available at the right price.
“Now, more and more of them come to us specifically because they want the same model, same year, same specifications.
“Basically, they don’t want to absorb the cost of retraining every time a new vehicle enters the rotation.”
However, Radauskas cautions that true standardisation goes beyond simply purchasing vehicles from the same manufacturer. “Real standardization means vehicles of comparable age, similar mileage, matching specification, and verified service history.
“Without those factors, the operational benefits of running a single brand largely disappear – you get the appearance of a standardized fleet without actually having one,” he said.
Girteka Training argues that in today’s constrained labour market, fleet strategy has become a key operational lever.
A consistent fleet can simplify driver onboarding, support performance benchmarking and improve job satisfaction by reducing complexity behind the wheel.
The company also emphasises that standardisation does not require investment in brand-new vehicles.
Fairly new used trucks with matching specifications and documented service histories can deliver similar benefits at a lower capital cost.
With driver shortages continuing to intensify, Girteka Training concludes that operators need to look beyond wages and recruitment, and focus on operational fundamentals such as fleet consistency to drive safer, more efficient and more sustainable transport operations.
