Paraná State Imports Truck Drivers from Colombia

03/19/2014 - 09h10

Faced with a chronic shortage of labour, companies from the state of Paraná in the south of Brazil are looking for truck drivers in Colombia to work on Brazilian roads.

The first ten Colombians arrived in February. Their training is coming to an end and they are ready to start driving in a country with a deficit of 100 thousand drivers.

Foreign drivers are increasingly attracted to Brazil. According to Gilberto Cantú, president of Setcepar (Union of Paraná Freight Transportation Companies) who initiated the agreement with Colombia said that he has received 230 applications since the first drivers arrived.

"They earn 40% more and have more rights than there," said Cantú. He also said that companies from other states have already asked for the foreign applications to fill their vacant slots.

46 year old Ricardo Camacho, a truck driver for the past 18 years, is one of the Colombians that opted to come to Brazil. He is currently in training but will be ready to work on Brazilian roads by the end of the month. Camacho drove container trucks in Colombia but he preferred the work conditions in Brazil.

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Statistics remain vague but the number of trucks and buses at a standstill due to the labour shortage is on the rise. According to Wesley Passaglia, director of training at the National Transportation Confederation (CNT), 11 thousand truck drivers have already gone through training since 2011. But demand still won´t be met.

That is why the company is now offering free training to 50 thousand young people in exchange for a two year commitment.

Training is also necessary because, according to MDS, an insurance company the lack of personnel is causing professionals with little experience to take to the roads, provoking an increase in accidents.

Research carried out by this insurance company over a year suggests that two out of three accidents with freight transportation are caused by human error. The study is based on data provided by a sample of 9000 clients across the country.

Translated by MILLI LEGRAIN

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Theo Marques/Folhapress

The Colombian truck drivers Renato Ballesteros (left) and Ricardo Camacho work on Brazilian roads