Date : October 23, 2023
The Logistics 2024 Problem and the Future of Sustainable Logistics (Mr. Masaru Hojo, Director General Manager JILS Research Center)
post date : 2023.10.06
With revisions to laws being carried out since 2019 to implement working style reforms, as of April 2024 truck drivers will be limited to a maximum of 960 overtime hours per year. While this cap on overtime will improve the labor situation for individual truck drivers by decreasing how far they have to drive at once, there are concerns that it will no longer be possible to transport goods in a timely fashion over long distances, that drivers might switch to different industries due to lower overall income, or that sales will decrease for the logistics industry. This is referred to as the “logistics 2024 problem” in Japan, and the government’s study group on sustainable logistics estimated that if nothing is done, then there will be a 14% shortage of truck transportation capacity in 2024, and a 34% shortage in 2030. Japan’s logistics industry, which relies on drivers working long hours, urgently needs to take action.
Ahead of the implementation of this new cap on overtime, the FPCJ has invited Mr. Masaru Hojo, Director and General Manager of the Japan Institute of Logistics Systems (JILS) Research Center and a member of the study group mentioned above, to discuss what should be done for sustainable logistics in the face of the logistics 2024 problem. He will discuss the current state of logistics in Japan, as well as the logistics 2024 problem and its possible solutions.
■Please note that you cannot physically attend this briefing, as it will be a Zoom webinar.
■Date: Oct. 23 (Mon), 2023, 14:00-15:30 (Deadline for application: Noon, Thursday, Oct 19)
■Theme: The Logistics 2024 Problem and the Future of Sustainable Logistics
■Briefer: Mr. Masaru Hojo, Director General Manager JILS Research Center
■Language: Japanese, with consecutive English interpretation
As in our standard press briefings, there will be a Q&A session at the end.
*In principle, questions will only be accepted from members of the foreign press.
■Members of the Foreign Press:
Please send any questions for the briefer or topics you are interested in to cp@fpcjpn.or.jp by Noon, Thursday, Oct 19.
As there will only be a limited amount of time to ask questions during the briefing, we will collect questions and provide them to the briefer in advance.
■How to Apply: Please refer to the email we sent.
*We will not be accepting applications by email.
*Embassy representatives and FPCJ supporting members may also watch the briefing as observers (admission free).