SBS Holdings plans to recruit 1,800 truck drivers over the next decade, primarily from Indonesia, as Japan faces a 36% shortfall in drivers by 2030 due to an aging population and new overtime restrictions. The logistics company aims for foreign workers to comprise 30% of its driver workforce within 10 years.
The Tokyo-based firm will establish a driving school in Indonesia this year, deploying instructors to teach Japanese traffic regulations and language skills. Candidates will undergo six months of boarding school training before relocating to Japan.
The recruitment drive reflects broader challenges facing Japanese logistics operators after April 2024 overtime caps created what industry officials call the “2024 Problem” — stricter working hour limits that reduced transport capacity. The regulation has forced companies to rework delivery schedules and confront delays.
SBS Holdings, listed on Tokyo’s Prime Market, operates across general logistics, food distribution, and international freight services. The company’s foreign hiring strategy aligns with Indonesia’s goal of sending 250,000 workers to Japan over five years, up from an earlier target of 100,000.
Japan’s transportation industry now qualifies for special employment visas, with over 200 foreign candidates already passing required examinations covering traffic rules and cargo-handling methods. However, the scale of hiring needed to address capacity shortfalls remains substantial across the sector.
