Challenges
Does this sound familiar?
“Lost in translation?”- A scene from the office
This is a story from a mid-sized transport company specializing in automotive parts, located in a busy industrial hub.
To tackle the ongoing driver shortage, the company decided to take a bold step forward: they hired drivers with diverse backgrounds.
On the surface, it seems like the perfect solution. But the question is—have things been running smoothly since they joined the team?
Let’s find out.
Cast
Young, Promising Leader
A rising star at this transportation company
A versatile team player who handles everything from recruiting to training new comers
A true superhero, often jumps in a truck himself for unexpected deliveries
Currently facing challenges with hiring new drivers with diverse backgrounds
Company President
The second-generation owner of a transportation company with a 40-year history, founded in the Showa era
A highly dedicated professional who enjoys his job and oversees a thriving business
Struggling to adapt to the changing landscape of the transportation industry in recent years
Flexible and open to new challenges
President’s Wife
An indispensable member of the staff who supports her husband and the company behind the scenes by handling accounting and administrative tasks
A kind-hearted person who always has a smile on her face and is considerate of her employees
Her bright, positive personality makes her a “can-do” person even in a crisis, which can sometimes be a double-edged sword
Administrative assistant
A company social butterfly who loves chatting with people
She’s a bit too casual, but her heart’s in the right place
Although she’s been working in the HR department for about a year, still doesn’t know much about the transportation industry
On the other hand, she’s a walking encyclopedia of gossip and info
In a small, regional automotive parts transportation company, bathed in the golden sunlight of early summer, a refreshing atmosphere hangs in the air.
As the vibrant greenery and gentle breeze paint a picture of perfect tranquility,,,
One employee stands out with a cloud of gloom hovering over them.
Hey there, young man! You look absolutely gutted today. What’s wrong?
You look like you’ve seen a ghost—honestly, you’re like a walking monochrome picture!
Did you lose your wallet, or is it something worse?
Well, you’re making it sound easy, but getting everything right is a whole different story.
I’ve hit a bit of a roadblock with our new drivers. Trying to bridge the communication gap is proving to be a much bigger hurdle than I anticipated…
It’s tough, you know?
Assuming he could speak Japanese just because he’d lived in Japan for years was my first mistake.
During the interview, seeing him nodding along made me think he was doing okay. He kept saying he understood most of it, even if it was ‘just a little’…
I guess relying on his word was a bit too naive of me.
Oh, come on! What’s with all the long faces? Worrying about his Japanese seems like a bit much, doesn’t it?
We’re not in the service industry, right? At the end of the day, having someone who can drive is what matters. Who cares about the talking, as long as the cargo gets there?
You gotta believe me, thinking like that was exactly how I started! 😭
But I’ve realized that teaching the actual work is nearly impossible without the language.
It gets really messy when it comes to explaining company rules or legal requirements. You can’t just wing it when safety and laws are on the line!
I’m so sorry you’re going through this, dear.
To help with easing your burden, maybe hiring an interpreter could be an option?
Or, I suppose, waiting patiently until he gets more comfortable with the language might be our only choice for now…
Whoa, hold on a second. I hate to be the one to say it, but you guys know our situation, right?
We aren’t like the big players. Spending money on hiring interpreters or wasting time on endless training just isn’t an option for us. We need to stay afloat.
Why make it so complicated?
Fixing this is easy! Just using a translation app on your phone will solve everything, won’t it? It’s 2026, everybody!
I’m not blaming you, but you don’t seem to understand! Of course, I’ve tried that.
But working in logistics isn’t like shooting the breeze while on vacation abroad. Checking how much they actually understand is the hardest part. What should take an hour ends up taking a whole day.
Getting the job done properly is a lot more complicated than it looks!
Listen up, everyone.
It looks like me just sitting back and relaxing as usual isn’t going to cut it this time.
I’m going to have to roll up my sleeves and get involved in sorting this out. We can’t have you all stressed out like this!
You don’t have to be worried about it, ma’am!
I believe I know just the person for the job. I’ve heard of a highly experienced truck driver who’s fluent in English and has a knack for explaining things to foreign drivers.
Bringing him in might be exactly what we need!
What’s more, having a deep knowledge of labor regulations is his thing, and he exclusively serves clients in our local area.
But, I gotta say, working only short hours is how he rolls. Getting hold of him for something ASAP might be a bit of a pain sometimes.
Hmm, working shorter hours? That’s a bit of a unique approach. I wonder if having him on the team would actually work for us.
By the way, Where do you even get all this stuff? You’re quite the trivia buff, aren’t you?
Guilty! It’s because I’m always scrolling through my phone during work.
Oops—awkward—did I just admit that? 😅
Well, I guess my ‘phone addiction’ actually came in handy this time, right? Haha!”
Haha, seeing that coming was easy! I’ll let it slide this time.
But I have to admit, what you’re giving us is a huge point!
On top of that, him having actual driving experience will be a massive help for us. It’s exactly what we’re missing!
Boss, let me give it a shot, please!
With his support, turning this situation around will be a game-changer for our company. I’m still figuring out how to make it work, but knowing what happens to us if I don’t… well, I’m not going to let that happen.
Saving this company is my priority, because that’s who I am!
Hey everyone, check this out!
There’s a Contact button right here!
So let’s just hitting it up and see what happens!
*This is a work of fiction created based on the assumption of hiring diverse drivers with Japanese nationality or permanent residency.
According to a document published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the acceptance of foreign drivers under the “Specified Skilled Worker” system is expected to begin after December 16, 2025.