Fukuyama Transporting, based in Hiroshima, is currently training prospective drivers in Vietnam and providing them with language classes along with driving examinations. The company aims to employ approximately 15 long-distance truckers sometime around the summer of 2026.
In response to a significant workforce deficit, logistics and transport businesses in Japan are starting to hire foreign nationals as drivers since these sectors now meet the criteria for obtaining a specialized work visa.
To acquire the "specific competencies" certification in vehicle transport, candidates are required to successfully complete an assessment covering Japanese driving regulations and specialized techniques for loading freight. This test was introduced initially in December 2024, with over 200 individuals having earned this credential as reported. Nikkei Asia .
Fukuyama Transporting, based in Hiroshima, is currently training potential truck drivers in Vietnam and providing them with language classes along with driving assessments. The company intends to employ approximately 15 long-distance drivers sometime around the summer of 2026.
Sakai Moving Service, based in Osaka, has initiated hiring through an Indonesian staffing agency. Following various evaluations such as interviews, the firm intends to employ over ten individuals aged from their 20s to 40s for driving roles, with plans beginning in August. Upon arriving in Japan, Sakai will offer assistance with language acquisition and help convert their driver’s licenses to Japanese standards. These new hires are scheduled to commence work as drivers come March 2026, during the peak relocation period.
By the fiscal year 2032, Senko Group Holdings plans to have secured 100 drivers through the special visa program. They will offer assistance with acquiring driving credentials as well as language instruction at their training centers located in Chiba and Shiga Prefectures.
The scarcity of drivers in Japan continues to intensify. According to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, truck drivers log approximately 20% more working hours per year compared to the average worker, yet they earn roughly 10% less annually.
A legal amendment in April 2024 restricts truck drivers’ overtime to 960 hours annually. According to NX Logistics Research Institute and Consulting, without additional provisions, the transportation capability of freight trucks will be 34% below the required level by fiscal 2030.
The skills-program initiative aims to address labor shortages by enabling specific sectors to employ qualified international workers, such as those needed in caregiving roles. In March 2024, the automobile transport sector joined this program and anticipates employing approximately 24,500 foreigners between fiscal years 2024 through 2028.