集配トラックドライバーの成り手不足の改善なるか？　　　　気ままなリライト128

荷待ち削減、計画義務化　物流24年問題に対応 - 日本経済新聞

The government is gearing up to introduce a set of stricter regulations for the logistics sector, aiming to tackle the anticipated logistical challenges stemming from new policies set to take effect in April 2024. Those polices include a cap on truck drivers' maximum working hours, a measure intended to promote better working conditions and enhance drivers’ health and safety. Overcoming the challenge of implementing the new policies smoothly, without worsening the critical driver shortage exacerbated by increasing delivery service demands, remains a priority. The forthcoming updated regulations, which are likely to be passed in the current Diet session, strive to improve logistics efficiency and productivity. Moreover, they seek to enforce stricter legal interventions for the protection of small-sized trucking companies, which are essential yet vulnerable players at the supply chain's base in Japan's labor and corporate sectors.

The newly amended regulations are enhanced by the guidelines for consignors (those who ship goods) and logistics operators to boost efficiency and productivity within the logistics sector. Those adjustments are aimed at addressing the expected shortfall in trucking capacity due to the new policies strictly regulating working hours for truck drivers, including restrictions like a maximum of 960 hours of annual overtime, a total annual bound time limit of 3,300 hours and a daily bound time maximum of 13 hours. Research from the NX General Research Institute forecasts a 14.2% reduction in truck transport capacity by fiscal year 2024, with a projected increase in shortfall to 34% by 2030. In light of those challenges, the guidelines focus on maximizing driving time within those constraints by minimizing waiting and loading time. Compliance is enforced through stringent record-keeping requirements for original contracting companies, which are obliged to document detailed accounts of the transportation timeline, especially the duration of waiting times for loading and unloading.

The reinforced regulations also highlight the concerns over exploitative practices arising from the complex layers of subcontracting, which present significant hurdles for subcontracted truck drivers and their companies in achieving equitable treatment and remuneration. With a significant 74% of truck drivers operating as subcontractors, there exists a pronounced disparity in power between those drivers and the primary contracting companies. This imbalance severely restricts the bargaining capabilities of subcontractors, leading to subpar working conditions for drivers, notably including unpaid time for loading and unloading tasks. In response, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism takes steps to rectify this imbalance by proposing the establishment of a fair, industry-wide standard for transportation expenses, advocating for an average increase of 8% above the current rates.

Furthermore, the regulations emphasize a more accountable role for consignors in improving the efficiency of dock and warehouse operations. A broad spectrum of companies, soon mandated to designate a chief logistics officer, is tasked with overseeing logistic operations. This pivotal role involves the legal responsibility of drafting and submitting precise schedules for the loading and unloading of goods, a measure aimed at reducing the waiting time and increasing predictability for truck drivers. Non-adherence to those stipulations will result in substantial penalties for the consignors, with fines reaching up to one million yen, highlighting the critical nature of those regulatory expectations.