Transport of goods by road and socially fair ecological transition: challenges, progress and improvement proposals

Abstract

Road freight transport must move towards an economic model that is ecological and socially fair, promoting employment and decent work. This path is subject to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the successive commitments that Spain has made during this century. The challenges are enormous and it is urgent to address them due to the desperate advance of climate change and the deterioration of labor rights; however, the legal advances made in our country in recent years are moderate, while the issues pending to be addressed accumulate at a dizzying pace. This study analyzes the characteristics of the spanish logistics and transport industry, to understand the socio-labor problems of the sector and, from there, examine the working conditions and social protection of the emblematic professional group of this branch of activity, the drivers (national and international transport), regardless of whether they carry out their activity as employees, self-employed or associates in transport cooperatives. The objective is to propose improvements in the different aspects of labor protection that deserve especial attention (access to the profession and training, conciliation, health and safety at work or social protection).