Approximately 70% of Logistics Company Managers Employing Foreign Drivers Respond, 'Hiring Foreign Drivers Alone Cannot Overcome the 2024 Problem!'

G.A. Group Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Masanori Imaizumi), which operates a foreign talent recruitment support business, conducted a "Survey on the Actual Status of Foreign Driver Employment" targeting managers (men and women in their 20s to 60s) of logistics companies employing foreign drivers. This survey revealed the objectives of logistics company managers in employing foreign drivers, challenges in their training and retention, and necessary support to prevent turnover. In the logistics industry, the employment of foreign drivers is becoming widespread as a countermeasure against the severe driver shortage associated with the "2024 Problem." While it is expected to be an effective means of securing labor, there are unique challenges to on-site retention, such as early turnover due to language and cultural differences, and the burden of training costs. However, there is insufficient quantitative data showing how logistics companies that have actually employed foreign drivers evaluate its effectiveness as a medium- to long-term solution and what risks they perceive. Therefore, G.A. Group Co., Ltd. conducted a "Survey on the Actual Status of Foreign Driver Employment" targeting managers of logistics companies employing foreign drivers. - Over 80% of managers at logistics companies employing foreign drivers responded that the main purpose of their company hiring foreign drivers is "to resolve driver shortages." - The main challenges in retaining and training foreign drivers are "communication in Japanese" and "guidance on Japanese business customs and customer service etiquette." - Over 70% of managers at logistics companies employing foreign drivers perceive the early turnover rate of foreign drivers to be similar to or higher than that of Japanese drivers. - Nearly half of managers at logistics companies employing foreign drivers responded that the main reason for foreign drivers' early turnover is "stress and isolation due to language and cultural differences." - The main support perceived by managers at logistics companies employing foreign drivers as necessary to prevent foreign drivers' turnover is "support for Japanese language learning" and "cross-cultural understanding training for Japanese employees." - Approximately two out of three managers at logistics companies employing foreign drivers believe that promoting the employment of foreign drivers alone cannot overcome the "2024 Problem" in logistics. Survey period: April 16, 2026 - April 21, 2026 Survey method: Internet survey Survey target: Managers (men and women in their 20s to 60s) of logistics companies employing foreign drivers Number of respondents: 281 Monitor provider: RC Research Data * Response ratios are rounded to the second decimal place, so the total response ratio may not be 100.0%. Over 80% of managers at logistics companies employing foreign drivers responded that the main purpose of their company hiring foreign drivers is "to resolve driver shortages." First, in response to the question, "What is the main purpose of your company hiring foreign drivers?", the results were: 1st place "to resolve driver shortages" at 80.4%, 2nd place "to promote diversity within the company" at 31.3%, and 3rd place "to secure young talent" at 26.3%. From these results, it was found that over 80% of managers at logistics companies employing foreign drivers responded that the main purpose of their company hiring foreign drivers is "to resolve driver shortages." The main challenges in retaining and training foreign drivers are "communication in Japanese" and "guidance on Japanese business customs and customer service etiquette." Next, in response to the question, "What challenges do you perceive in retaining and training foreign drivers?", the results were: 1st place "communication in Japanese" at 53.0%, 2nd place "guidance on Japanese business customs and customer service etiquette" at 48.4%, and 3rd place "guidance on Japanese traffic rules and safety standards" at 47.3%. From these results, it was clear that the main challenges in retaining and training foreign drivers are "communication in Japanese" and "guidance on Japanese business customs and customer service etiquette." Over 70% of managers at logistics companies employing foreign drivers perceive the early turnover rate of foreign drivers to be similar to or higher than that of Japanese drivers. Subsequently, in response to the question, "What is the situation regarding the early turnover rate of foreign drivers compared to Japanese drivers?", the results were: 1st place "similar to Japanese drivers" at 50.2%, 2nd place "lower than Japanese drivers" at 28.1%, and 3rd place "higher than Japanese drivers" at 21.7%. The sum of the ratios for 1st and 3rd place responses is 71.9%, and from these results, it was found that over 70% of managers at logistics companies employing foreign drivers perceive the early turnover rate of foreign drivers to be similar to or higher than that of Japanese drivers.