Three Thai drivers have arrived in Japan under a Saga Prefecture program, successfully passed the foreign license conversion test, and joined a local transport company.
Three Thai men, who were interviewed and selected in Thailand last August as part of the 'Saga-style Foreign Driver Challenge Program'—an initiative commissioned by Saga Prefecture to Factory Lab Co., Ltd. (Satake Group) to address labor shortages in the logistics industry—arrived in Japan in February 2026 and have joined the transport company Toward Co., Ltd. (Kanzaki City, Saga Prefecture). This program has garnered significant attention as the first model in Japan where a local government supports the recruitment of foreign drivers for companies within the prefecture. The entrance ceremony held on February 20th was attended by numerous members of the press from both within and outside the prefecture. Regarding the acquisition of Japanese driver's licenses, all three individuals utilized the 'Foreign License Conversion System,' which involves taking tests at a driver's license center to convert their Thai licenses to Japanese ones. As of October 2025, the procedures for this system were tightened and the test content significantly hardened, causing the pass rate for the knowledge test to drop from approximately 90% to 40%, and the driving test from 30% to 10%, making it a much higher hurdle to overcome. Despite this, all three individuals passed the knowledge test on their first attempt. For the driving test, they practiced at Saga Johoku Driving School (Saga City, Saga Prefecture), a partner of Factory Lab, and successfully passed within approximately three weeks. The key to their safe driving lies in careful candidate selection and an educational system established in cooperation with the driving school, focusing on candidates who are former technical interns with high proficiency in the Japanese language.
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: News
FAQ
What is the official name of the recruitment initiative that brought the three Thai truck drivers to Japan, and which governmental body and private company commissioned this program?
The initiative is called the Saga‑style Foreign Driver Challenge Program, commissioned by Saga Prefecture and implemented by Factory Lab Co., Ltd., a member of the Satake Group.
When did the three Thai truck drivers arrive in Japan, and which transport company in Kanzaki City did they join as part of the Saga‑style program?
They arrived in Japan in February 2026 and joined Toward Co., Ltd., a transport company located in Kanzaki City, Saga Prefecture.
What specific revisions to the Foreign License Conversion System were introduced in October 2025, and how did these revisions change the knowledge test and driving test pass rates?
In October 2025 the system was tightened, reducing the knowledge‑test pass rate from around ninety percent to forty percent and the driving‑test pass rate from thirty percent to ten percent, making both exams considerably harder.
Which driving school partnered with Factory Lab to train the Thai drivers, and approximately how many weeks did it take them to pass the Japanese driving test after beginning practice?
The drivers trained at Saga Johoku Driving School, a partner of Factory Lab, and they successfully passed the driving test after roughly three weeks of practice.
What selection criteria did the program prioritize for candidates, and why were former technical interns with high Japanese proficiency considered key to their safe driving performance?
The program emphasized careful candidate selection and an educational system focusing on former technical interns who possessed high Japanese language proficiency, which was viewed as essential for ensuring safe and effective driving on Japanese roads.