Subsidy Flash Survey: Securing Funds for Wage Increases in Trucking and Logistics — Reducing Out-of-Pocket Costs by More Than Half with Capital Investment Subsidies

Subsidy Flash (https://hojokin-kensaku.jp/), a service providing AI-powered search and application support for nationwide subsidies and grants, has aggregated and analyzed 18 support programs related to wage increases and work style reform for the transportation industry that were open for application as of June 1, 2026.

Subsidies that can be used for wage increases are often thought to directly cover personnel costs, but for the transportation industry, the core systems are designed to increase productivity through the introduction of vehicles and business systems, channeling the resulting surplus into wage funds. By restructuring wage increase plans around capital investment, eligible candidates can be found.

■ Analysis Summary

(1) For transportation businesses looking to replace vehicles and cargo handling equipment or introduce business management systems, the core systems can reduce out-of-pocket costs by more than half. Since some candidates can cover hardware purchases and operational efficiency improvements under a single system, listing 'which operations you want to make more productive' first makes it easier to narrow down candidates.

(2) The core systems are medium-scale, ranging from 1 million to 5 million yen, allowing businesses to start with the electrification of one vehicle or the introduction of one business management system. Small-scale options that can be used for a single training session or a single consultation with an expert are also included, allowing businesses to begin improvements for wage increases without immediately committing to large-scale investments.

(3) In some cases, driver training costs and work style reform consulting fees can be covered under the same system. This reduces the need to apply for capital investment and human resource development under separate systems, making it easier to prioritize applications by planning equipment introduction, training, and expert consultations together.

■ Survey Overview

Survey Target

Subsidies and support programs related to wage increases and work style reform for the transportation industry that were open for application

Survey Method

Aggregation and analysis of public information posted on Subsidy Flash

Survey Purpose

To help transportation businesses (trucking, taxi, bus, logistics, etc.) understand the trends in eligible expenses, amounts, and subsidy rates when searching for subsidies to secure funds for wage increases and work style reform, and to make it easier to select systems that allow for simultaneous capital and human resource investment

Survey Period

As of June 1, 2026 (snapshot)

Survey Area

Nationwide

Number of Cases Surveyed

18 cases

Survey Entity

Subsidy Flash (Operated by Franca AI Inc.)

■ Main Survey Results

[What expenses are covered?]

Source: Subsidy Flash (in-house database) / Aggregation date: June 1, 2026

The core systems are those that can be used for investments that directly boost on-site productivity, such as vehicles, cargo handling equipment, and business management systems.

Investments in equipment that improve the operational efficiency per driver, such as replacing trucks with low-fuel-consumption vehicles and introducing digital tachographs and operation management systems, are eligible. The Subsidy for Supporting Trucking Businesses Facing Labor Shortages and Rising Prices (up to 3 million yen) covers the introduction of DX promotion, creating a comfortable working environment for women, heat countermeasures, and low-fuel-consumption tires, alleviating both labor shortages and cost burdens simultaneously.

Some systems go beyond hardware investment to include driver training and expert consultations on work style reform. The Work Style Reform Promotion Subsidy (Industry-Specific Issues Course) (up to 10 million yen, subsidy rate 3/4) covers equipment introduction, consulting contracts, and training costs necessary for reducing working hours and raising wages, allowing for a review of work styles from both equipment and operational perspectives.

■ Full Text of This Survey (PDF Version)

For those who want to check 'to what extent the costs of introducing vehicles and business systems are eligible for subsidies' and 'whether training costs can be covered under the same system,' the full PDF is available from the survey page.

▶ Survey Page (PDF Downloadable): https://hojokin-kensaku.jp/report/R56d54202ca

■ Company Information

Company Name: Franca AI Inc.

Representative Director: Shunpei Inoue

Location: N&E BLD.6F, 1-12-4 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Website: https://franca.ai

Contact: info@franca.co.jp

■ Related Links

Subsidy Flash (Search for nationwide subsidy and grant information): https://hojokin-kensaku.jp/

Subsidy Flash (AI-powered automatic generation of plans for major subsidies): https://franca.ai/hojokin

Subsidy Flash Launches Plan Creation Function for Major Subsidies: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000004.000144052.html

Subsidy Flash Now Supports the 'Small and Medium Enterprise New Business Advancement Subsidy': https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000015.000144052.html