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Less work, more money. It seems like an undeniable offer, especially for TIR drivers who spend weeks away from family to transport goods on time. It is an industry in which around 60,000 Romanians have found work. They spend hours in heavy traffic and weekends in parking lots. The European Union wants to eliminate these working conditions, but drivers like Ștefan Damian have learned that the intention is ahead of a road full of obstacles. See a report from “Focus Europa”, a project by Digi24 and Deutsche Welle. The program airs on Friday at 11:30 p.m. and resumes on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
On the way – day then day. For six years. Ștefan Damian is a trucker. Travel through France, Germany, Spain…. Always away from home. The salary is good, he says, but the work is not easy.
“After a year, I wanted to go home. I had a little boy. Now I realize that this is still my job,” says Ștefan Damian.
Stefan is in Pitesti where he prepares for his next trip. He checks his 40 ton truck one more time, he can’t afford any damage on the road. Within three days, you must deliver an order to a customer in France.
His wife and daughter prepare his clothes, kitchen utensils and food for the trip.
You’ve been doing this job for years, but you still have a hard time saying goodbye.
60,000 Romanians work on trucks in Western Europe
Stefan is a bit worried. The new European Union mobility package has recently been launched in Europe and beyond to know how it will affect you.
“I mean situations I have heard of, like being at work for four or five months. No. It seems too much to me. That’s not driving anymore, “says Ștefan.
Approximately 60,000 Romanian truckers work in Western Europe. Many spend their free time and weekends sleeping in parking lots.
The new legislation says that the employer must pay drivers hotel accommodation on days offme. And you should also allow employees to come home every 3-4 weeks. The rules are intended to ensure fair competition in the single market and prevent exploitation, especially of drivers in Eastern Europe.
As usual, there is a queue at the Hungarian border. Romania is not part of the Schengen area. So every time you go home to Western Europe, driver you have to wait hours, if not days, to cross the border.
Stefan Damian will not enter Hungary tonight, soand prepare the bed for the night. He is worried about the future and what will happen if he only works one month.
„If I work fewer hours, it means that I will earn much less money. Probably half. I wonder if it still makes sense to make that effort. Not at home, not with money, not with family … I don’t see the pointȘtefan confesses.
Romanian drivers earn three to four times the average tsar salaryyours, but this is likely to change.
Many companies will not survive in the new conditions.
“We need to use more drivers and cover the additional costs and expenses with hotel nights due to the increase in rates for our clients,” explains Iulian Andreica, the operator of a logistics company.
He says that many trucking companies will not survive due to the additional costs. Those who can afford it are already looking for alternatives abroad.
“We have already started to transfer part of our business from Romania to Western Europe,” says Andreica.
The company already has a branch in the north of Spain.
Ștefan Damian crosses the border the next morning. A Romanian official checks his papers, while Hungarian officials pay more attention to the cargo being transported.
Finally, it starts up again.
“I do not intend to give up. I will adapt to the new rules. I hope the situation improves in some way and we, the drivers, will benefit from this change,” says Ștefan.
24 hours and 900 kilometers later, Stefan stops to carefully check the next leg of the journey. Vienna is coming.
He hopes to have work to do from now on.
Editor: Luana Pavaluca
