https://www.sanyonews.jp/article/1850989

In Japan's logistics industry, a shortage of drivers has become a serious social issue due to the country's declining birthrate, aging population, and shrinking workforce. Securing human resources is particularly difficult in rural areas, making maintaining logistics infrastructure itself a major challenge.

In response to this situation, the Specified Skilled Worker (Automobile Transportation Industry) System was approved by the Cabinet in March 2024, and full-scale implementation began in December of the same year. This system allows foreign nationals with certain skills and knowledge to work as truck, bus, and taxi drivers in Japan, and is expected to be a new way to secure human resources to support regional logistics.

However, when accepting foreign drivers, it is essential to create a system that not only handles recruitment procedures but also includes raising awareness of safe driving and providing support for them to settle into the workforce after employment.

The first visa issuance in Shikoku

Seitoku Unyu has now officially issued a work visa to a foreign driver who was hired through Think3, a registered support organization. This marks the first time in the Shikoku area that a visa has been issued to a foreign driver in the specified skills (automobile transportation) field. It is expected to become a model case for the future as a concrete initiative to accept, train, and establish foreign drivers in regional logistics.

Support system for post-employment

To prevent accidents involving Specified Skilled Drivers, it is essential to go beyond simply obtaining a driver's license and provide education that fosters a deep awareness of Japan's unique traffic culture and safety.
Think3 provides detailed follow-up tailored to each driver's proficiency level and situation, based on the "expertise in developing people" cultivated over many years of experience in the driving school. We not only provide support for daily life and employment after entering the country, but also accompany drivers in the workforce, providing ongoing support to reduce the management burden on accepting companies, thereby building a system that allows foreign drivers and companies to build long-term relationships of trust. Going forward, we will continue to strive to solve the social issue of serious labor shortages and realize a "safe society without traffic accidents" where local residents can live with peace of mind.