A vocational training school in Uganda is preparing truck drivers for work in Germany and other European countries as Europe’s transport industry struggles with a persistent labour shortage.
The German School of Truck Driving, which began operating in 2023, is based in Kampala and offers professional driving instruction alongside German language training. The programme is aimed at aligning driver skills with European road safety and licensing standards.
According to industry data from the International Road Transport Union, Europe faces a shortage of hundreds of thousands of truck drivers, driven by retirements, rising freight demand and regulatory pressures. Germany accounts for a significant share of unfilled positions.
GSTD’s nine-month curriculum includes preparation for CE-level licences, road safety instruction, and language training up to B1 level. The school also provides information on licensing procedures and employment frameworks in multiple European jurisdictions.
European governments have increasingly turned to overseas recruitment to address labour gaps, expanding visa pathways for skilled drivers. Analysts say training initiatives abroad are becoming an integral part of workforce planning.
