Renewal of the public transport contract: solutions for driver shortage and sustainability
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COMPANIES AND STAKEHOLDERS RENEW THEIR CONFIDENCE IN NME: EXHIBITION’S SECOND EDITION BECOMES THE FOCAL POINT IN ITALY FOR DISCUSSIONS ON GREEN PUBLIC TRANSPORT

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COMPANIES AND STAKEHOLDERS RENEW THEIR CONFIDENCE IN NME: EXHIBITION’S SECOND EDITION BECOMES THE FOCAL POINT IN ITALY FOR DISCUSSIONS ON GREEN PUBLIC TRANSPORT

READ THE PRESS RELEASE

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Renewal of the public transport contract: solutions for driver shortage and sustainability
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Local public transport in Italy requires concrete interventions to attract and retain new professionals, from updates to the Highway Code to the renewal of the national collective agreement.

Italian local public transport is facing one of the most urgent challenges of recent years: the shortage of drivers. With over 10,000 positions unfilled, a gap that is expected to widen further in the near future, the sector needs concrete interventions to attract and retain new professionals.

The recent update to the Highway Code, which permits individuals to obtain a professional bus driver's license as early as the age of 18, is a significant innovation that can help address part of this shortage. Previously, the minimum age was set at 21, thus limiting the entry of young people motivated to pursue a career in public transport. Alongside this regulatory innovation, the renewal of the national contract for local public transport presents an opportunity to make the job of driver more appealing.

The increase in minimum wage standards, the introduction of financial incentives, and the possibility of company-level agreements regulating working hours are concrete tools to improve working conditions and encourage entry into the sector. This phase of renewal does not only concern wages but extends to a broader reflection on how local public transport can respond to future challenges, promoting sustainable and integrated mobility.

Through targeted policies and a strategic vision, the sector can once again become a benchmark for quality employment, while ensuring service continuity and accessibility for both citizens and tourists.