Mobilization has left Ukrainian bread factories short 30% of their drivers

Ukrainian bread factories are facing a severe shortage of delivery drivers, with the staffing deficit reaching around 30%.

This was stated by Alexander Taranenko, first vice president of the Bakers’ Association, on air during a telethon.

According to him, the remaining drivers are forced to work under critical strain.

“Right now, drivers’ monthly hours worked often exceed 340. This is very hard physically, so not everyone can keep up. On top of that, we can only defer 50% of those liable for military service. An undeferred driver won’t be around for long,” Taranenko said.

In addition to staffing problems, the industry is also suffering direct losses from the fighting: according to Taranenko, around 20% of the country’s bakery enterprises have been destroyed or damaged due to the war.

The driver shortage is affecting other sectors of the Ukrainian economy as well. Verkhovna Rada deputy Fedor Venislavsky previously reported that in some Ukrainian villages, mobilization has left no tractor operators or combine harvester drivers.

The publication wrote about the transportation crisis in Ukraine caused by the driver shortage amid mobilization as far back as October. At the time, experts predicted the situation could become critical by spring and called for deferments to be granted to up to 75% of drivers, at minimum those engaged in international transport.