The record inflation rate of 12.8% recorded in 2022, and to a lesser extent in 2023, slowed down the Slovak economy considerably, despite significant growth of 22.4% in the automotive sector, a pillar of its economy. Between 2019 and 2022, the cost per kilometer of road transport increased by 29%, mainly due to higher driver costs, fuel prices, vehicle prices, and maintenance costs.

The Slovakian road transport sector has thus found itself caught between the country's economic recovery and the difficulties encountered due to the shortage of drivers and the significant increase in its costs. In this tense labor market context, Slovakian transport companies have not hesitated to increase drivers' salaries. With travel allowances already at their maximum, the gross monthly salary of a typical international driver rose to €1,280 in 2022, the same level as in the Iberian Peninsula before COVID-19. Over the period 2019-2022, there has been a steady increase in the hourly cost of a driver assigned to international routes, reaching +23%.

Faced with economic problems, Slovakian transport companies are reacting quickly. Professional organizations are taking action by encouraging their members to apply diesel indexation and by putting a draft collective agreement for the sector back on the table, clear signs of growing maturity for an Eastern European flag still considered low-cost in the West.

The CNR invites you to discover this new study, which provides comprehensive details on Slovakian TRM.