From April next year, regulations on overtime work for truck drivers will be strengthened, and in the logistics industry, there is concern about a decrease in transportation volume, which is called the "2024 problem."
On the 17th, a national study group that discusses this issue approved an interim report that included legal provisions for companies on the shipper side and efforts to improve the efficiency of logistics.
In the logistics industry, the upper limit of overtime work will be regulated to 960 hours a year from April next year in order to improve the working environment for truck drivers.
On the other hand, there is concern about a decrease in transport volume due to a shortage of drivers, which is called the "2024 problem."
A national investigative committee meeting to discuss this issue was held on the 17th, and a draft interim report was presented.
In this report, it is essential to improve the efficiency of logistics in order to cope with the decrease in transportation capacity, and after pointing out that the cooperation of companies on the shipper side is extremely important, the shipper side also has to reduce the waiting time at the delivery destination. We should consider measures to encourage systematic improvements, such as reducing the number of deliveries and the number of deliveries.
Specifically, it is stipulated by law that shippers should formulate a logistics improvement plan, and if there is a significant deviation from the plan, the government will issue a recommendation.
At the meeting, a member of the committee expressed the opinion that "shippers should also be involved in promoting more effective measures," and after that the proposal for the interim report was approved.
Based on these contents, the government plans to consider revising related laws in the future, and as the "2024 problem" approaches, the public and private sectors will urgently take countermeasures.
National study group Nemoto chairman "Take measures by involving shippers"
Keiai University professor Toshinori Nemoto, who is chairing the national study group, said, "I think it's very significant that the study group has been able to approve the proposal for the interim report. In the logistics industry, it's hard for small and medium-sized shipping companies to refuse. There is an atmosphere like this, so it is necessary for shippers to get involved and take measures.There is only one year left until the '2024 problem', and we must use this as an opportunity to change the logistics industry." .
Reducing the burden on drivers Consumers also need to cooperate
The “2024 problem” in the logistics industry.
We consumers can also cooperate by reducing the number of redeliveries.
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in October last year, 11.8% of parcels were redelivered by courier services, meaning that 1 out of 10 parcels was not delivered in one delivery. .
In order to reduce redelivery, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is calling for specifying the time when packages can be reliably received at home, as it is equivalent to the labor force of about 60,000 drivers per year.
In addition, if there is a sudden change in schedule, delivery companies also provide a service that allows you to change the delivery date and time using an app before delivery.
In addition, even if you are not at home, you can have your luggage delivered to a pre-designated location, such as a delivery box installed at the front door, or a delivery locker installed at a station or supermarket, or a convenience store. There is also a service that delivers luggage to a place, and using such a service will also reduce the burden on the driver.
“It is difficult for small and medium-sized shipping companies to handle this alone.”
Small and medium-sized transportation companies have voiced concerns about the impact of the "2024 problem" that long-distance transportation will decrease and sales will decline.
With the spread of online shopping, there are voices saying that it is important to gain the understanding of shippers and consumers, such as the need to properly pass on costs to maintain distribution.
A transportation company in Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture, with approximately 90 employees, is able to continue transportation due to the long working hours of truck drivers. It is said that there are times when overtime work exceeds 80 hours.
Under these circumstances, it is said that this company will be forced to review its work due to the tightening of overtime regulations from April next year.
One of them is the need to reduce long-distance transportation jobs.
Approximately 50% of the company's sales are for long-distance transportation to Kansai, and currently, one driver is driving trucks.
However, after April next year, it will be difficult for one driver to handle the situation.
In addition, this company expects that the salary of drivers in charge of long-distance transportation will decrease by about 50,000 yen per month due to shortening of working hours, etc., and more people will leave their jobs, and the labor shortage will become more serious. I am concerned.
This transportation company says that it is important for shippers and consumers to understand the price pass-through in order to respond to the "2024 problem" and maintain logistics.
Kenji Takeuchi, president of Lambic, a transportation company, said, "Even if people say, 'Because it's decided, do it this way' about the 2024 problem, I think it's difficult for small and medium-sized transportation companies to deal with it alone. Sending packages for delivery. I would like shippers and consumers to know more about the fact that it is because of the presence of drivers that they are able to purchase items from stores."
Efforts by shippers There is also a movement to improve the working environment for drivers
Shippers have also started to make efforts to improve the efficiency of transportation and improve the working environment for drivers.
Valor Holdings, which operates approximately 1,300 supermarkets and other stores mainly in the Chubu region, sorts food and other items transported from all over the country at distribution centers for each region before delivering them to each store.
Trucks from all over the country gather at the distribution center, which serves as a hub, but because the space available for unloading is limited, drivers were forced to wait for long hours, especially in the morning.
Therefore, the company introduced a new reservation system.
By making it possible to grasp which contractor will unload at what time on a smartphone and have them reserve a vacant time, it will be possible to transport efficiently according to that time.
As a result, for example, at the distribution center in Gifu Prefecture, the average waiting time for drivers has been shortened from an hour and a half to about 20 minutes.
A truck driver in his 20s said, "Every minute and every second is important to get the job done in a limited amount of time. With the introduction of the reservation system, unloading has become really smooth, which is a great help." I was talking to
In addition, at this company, after delivering the products sorted at the distribution center to stores, etc., the driver goes around the delivery destination and on the way home to deliver another package, such as by visiting business partners, etc., without any packages. We are also trying to reduce the amount of time we spend driving.
In addition, we are reviewing the system itself, such as delaying the schedule from purchase to delivery by one day, and we are planning to improve the efficiency of transportation and reduce the burden on drivers.
Takayuki Koike, Acting President of "Valor Holdings" said, "If work style reforms overlap with the situation where the number of drivers who can become drivers is decreasing due to population decline, we will not be able to carry what we have been able to carry, and we will not be able to maintain the current system. There is no doubt about it. We have to seriously think about how to improve what we have now while maintaining the service level."