Girteka expands operations to Latvia and Romania

Lithuanian transport giant Girteka is expanding its operations by establishing new entities in Riga, Latvia, and Oradea, Romania. The company is shifting part of its fleet to Latvian and Romanian registrations to adapt to changing labor market conditions and a persistent shortage of professional drivers across Europe.

In Latvia, the company has already approached the milestone of 100 locally registered trucks. In Romania, preparations are underway to begin registering vehicles and employing drivers. While the initial focus is on driver recruitment, Girteka plans to build local administrative teams as these branches grow. The expansion is intended to improve recruitment capabilities, particularly for drivers from non-EU countries, by streamlining access to visas and work permits.

Pavel Kveten, CEO of Girteka Logistics, stated that the move ensures the company can maintain reliability and capacity for high-value and temperature-controlled cargo. This strategic shift comes as the International Road Transport Union reports approximately 502,000 unfilled truck driver positions in Europe, representing about 13% of the required workforce.