[TV Coverage] 8 Months After Induction: A Closer Look at the 'Real Current State' of Specified Skilled Driver Talent

Eight months after starting work, two Indonesian drivers (Ginanjar and Sukma), introduced by Tokudora WORKS (operated by GLORY OF BRIDGE, HQ: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kosaku Demura, hereinafter 'the Company') under the Specified Skilled Worker program, were featured on Television Wakayama.

The two are the first Indonesian truck drivers under the Specified Skilled Worker program in Wakayama Prefecture to join Toba Transport Co., Ltd. (Wakayama Prefecture; Representative: Hiroki Toba). Ginanjar now operates a 4-ton truck independently, while Sukma is advancing to heavy truck training with the goal of obtaining a trailer license. Both have become outstanding contributors to the field.

News Highlights - Two Indonesian Specified Skilled Worker drivers became the first in Wakayama to begin solo operations just eight months after joining the company. - They are now advancing to heavy truck training, with some aiming for trailer licenses, growing as vital new strengths in the Japanese logistics industry. - Toba Transport, the host company, currently has six Indonesian Specified Skilled Worker drivers. A mentoring system where senior drivers train juniors is taking shape, and the company plans to increase this to 10 by the end of the year and 30 within three years, acting as a model for foreign driver development. - Through the company's unique 'on-site riding interview,' candidates are evaluated not just on driving technique, but also on safety consciousness, situation judgment, and character by riding along during actual driving scenarios. This rigorous process, going beyond documents or online interviews, ensures high retention rates. - The TV segment highlighted how these foreign workers are growing as members of regional companies and building trust on-site. It portrayed a new form of the logistics industry that goes beyond 'solving labor shortages'—one that 'grows together and builds the future together,' as highlighted from a third-party perspective.

Background: Escalating Driver Shortages and Utilizing the Specified Skilled Worker Program The 2024 Problem (regulation of overtime hours) has further exacerbated driver shortages in the transport industry. Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism estimates that by 2030, approximately 35% of domestic transport demand will not be met, raising alarm bells across the industry.

In response, the Specified Skilled Worker program for the transport industry was fully launched in 2025. While more transport companies are starting to hire foreign drivers, there are frequent complaints that 'they weren't immediately effective' or 'they didn't stay long.'

The Success of Two Key Drivers Since joining Toba Transport in September 2025, Ginanjar and Sukma have become essential members of the workforce. Ginanjar now operates a 4-ton truck solo, delivering goods throughout Wakayama, Osaka, and Nara. He is indispensable, regardless of the route or type of cargo, and has earned the trust of the company by providing guidance to newer Indonesian drivers.

Sukma, after establishing himself as a truck driver, is aiming even higher by undergoing training for heavy trucks. He is currently working toward a trailer license, and his ambition and speed of learning are highly rated by his workplace.

There are currently six Indonesian Specified Skilled Worker drivers at Toba Transport. Three of the four who joined later are in Japan for the first time, yet all are seriously studying Japanese and communicating well with Japanese staff, blending naturally into the workplace.

Comment from Toba Transport Representative Hiroki Toba 'I wanted to thoroughly verify the environment and the talent, so I traveled to Indonesia myself for recruitment. Indonesians are naturally very diligent, and their hard work really resonates with me. I hope to recruit 10 drivers by the end of the year and 30 within three years.'

Representative Toba's personal trip to Indonesia was the starting point for this success.

The Company's Initiative: On-site Riding Interviews for Immediate Effectiveness Tokudora WORKS places the on-site riding interview in Indonesia at the core of its recruitment process. While online interviews are common, Tokudora goes to the candidate's location and rides along as they drive a truck through city streets. Decisions are made only after directly verifying their driving technique, safety consciousness, and immediate situational judgment.