The reality is that drivers' salaries are low. By the way, the average monthly salary for a long-distance truck driver is said to be 300,000 to 600,000 yen. The average annual income will be around 4 million to 7.5 million yen. Furthermore, short-distance and medium-distance drivers are said to earn a monthly income of 250,000 to 400,000 yen, and an average annual income of 3 to 5 million yen. If driver salaries remain low, Japan's consumption will not increase and there will be no growth. As the times change, a kamikaze is blowing toward drivers. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is relaxing regulations that will allow carriers to carry parcels for home delivery and passengers at the same time. They announced a proposal that would allow buses, taxis, and trucks to carry both passengers and cargo. Additionally, the country is beginning to consider the introduction of ride-sharing.
As long-distance drivers transport passengers and help them on long-distance trips, the idea of earning money comes to them. You may also be able to earn money by hitchhiking. The challenge is how to attract travelers who want to travel by truck. The hint is Whim, which was developed in Finland. Whim will be the world's first transportation app that combines various transportation options such as trains, hotels, buses, taxis, bike shares, and car shares in one app to provide the optimal travel experience. Japan has become a popular country for foreign tourists. These tourists are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with just visiting a set of tourist spots such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Mt. Fuji.
An increasing number of people are coming to Japan after learning about the destination and things to experience in advance through social media, etc. An increasing number of people are using apps like Whim to travel around Japan. Individual travelers are one of the targets. Once we knew what travelers wanted, it became easier to provide them with that menu. If we can understand what a traveler wants, it seems possible to suggest the means of transportation, hotels, time and cost involved. If your driver qualifications include tour guide skills, even long-distance drivers may be able to create an enjoyable trip. If creating a fun trip becomes a side job, it will be fun for both drivers and travelers.