How can the Port of Rotterdam remain accessible as labour shortages continue to increase structurally? Follow-up research by Erasmus UPT, commissioned by SmartPort and Resilient Delta, shows that the solution does not lie only in increasing capacity, but mainly in smarter organisation, better collaboration across the supply chain, and improving transport performance per unit of labour.
Accessibility under pressure due to labour shortages
The port is increasingly confronted with shortages of truck drivers and inland shipping skippers. An ageing workforce and declining enrolment in training programmes are reinforcing this trend. At the same time, long waiting times at terminals and congestion at Maasvlakte lead to lower labour productivity and higher costs. Without intervention, pressure on the logistics system will continue to increase, creating the risk of a tipping point in the accessibility of the port and its hinterland.
Nieuwe blik: transportprestatie per arbeidsinzet
Waar bereikbaarheid traditioneel wordt afgemeten aan vervoersvolume of werkgelegenheid, introduceert dit onderzoek een andere invalshoek: de transportprestatie per arbeidsinzet. Deze indicator maakt inzichtelijk hoeveel tonkilometers met één uur arbeid worden gerealiseerd en laat zien hoe efficiënt de logistieke keten daadwerkelijk functioneert. De kernvraag daarbij is hoe met minder mensen dezelfde of meer goederen kunnen worden vervoerd. De huidige ontwikkelingen dragen hier niet aan bij. Het wegvervoer neemt een steeds groter aandeel in de transportprestatie voor zijn rekening, terwijl juist daar de personeelstekorten het grootst zijn. Oplopende wachttijden en inflexibele processen drukken bovendien op de productiviteit van zowel wegtransport als binnenvaart en zorgen voor extra werkdruk bij planners.
A new perspective: transport performance per unit of labour
Where accessibility is traditionally measured in terms of transport volume or employment, this research introduces a different perspective: transport performance per unit of labour. This indicator shows how many tonne-kilometres are achieved with one hour of labour and reveals how efficiently the logistics chain actually operates. The central question is how the same or greater volumes of goods can be transported with fewer people. Current developments do not contribute to this goal. Road transport is taking an increasingly large share of transport performance, while labour shortages are greatest in that sector. Rising waiting times and inflexible processes further reduce productivity in both road transport and inland shipping, and also increase workload for planners.
From modal shift to integrated organisation
To maintain transport performance, greater use must be made of transport modes that allow for larger-scale operations. In addition, logistics processes must be better aligned and waiting times structurally reduced. The study outlines six interconnected collective action lines, including:
- direct transfer of containers via inland shipping to hinterland hubs
- data-driven corridor planning
- a more inclusive labour market
- development of new skills for working with autonomous vehicle and vessel technologies
Towards a collective implementation agenda
There is no single solution to the labour shortage. The effectiveness of the port logistics chain requires collective thinking and collective action. The proposed indicator—transport performance per unit of labour—can help stakeholders make different choices in response to labour scarcity and jointly take concrete steps toward a future-proof and accessible port.
Download the full research report here
