Girteka is establishing new transport operations in Riga, Latvia, and Oradea, Romania, as the European road-freight sector faces a persistent shortage of professional drivers.
The entities will employ drivers, register local fleets and manage transport activity. Latvia is approaching 100 locally registered trucks already in service, while Romania is preparing for its first vehicles and drivers.
Capacity under labour-market pressure
The International Road Transport Union estimates that approximately 502,000 truck-driver positions were vacant across Europe in 2025, representing about 13% of the workforce required by the sector. It expects the demographic pressure to continue, with roughly 20% of current European truck drivers likely to retire within five years.
For Girteka, the issue has a direct commercial impact. The company transports around 800,000 full truckloads annually for more than 5,000 customers, according to Girteka. A shortage of drivers limits the fleet capacity that can be offered to shippers.
The company says it is adapting its network to maintain reliable service for temperature-controlled and high-value cargo, where customers require consistent capacity and close operational oversight.
Local teams to support expansion
The new operations build on Girteka’s existing country-based structure. In Poland, the company manages a fleet of about 3,000 trucks with local driver recruitment, transport management and operating capabilities.
Recruitment is already under way in Riga for transport operations and management positions. The new staff will help establish processes, support fleet growth and form local teams. Romanian recruitment will develop as the operation launches and expands.
Girteka says the Latvian and Romanian entities will be integrated into its wider European network. The business case is therefore broader than registering trucks in new markets: it is an effort to widen access to drivers and distribute operational resources across Europe while preserving customer capacity.
A multilingual professional experienced in Europe, Canada, and China, Herbert has developed invaluable networks in the automotive and energy industries. He has led high-profile projects involving ENBW, Mercedes-Benz Group, Siemens Group, and the Fraunhofer Institute.