The transport sector is facing a storm of challenges: new technologies, stricter environmental laws, economic crises, and a shortage of skilled staff. In Lithuania, these factors intertwine, affecting the industry's ability to grow sustainably. A recent study gathered expert opinions and applied statistical analysis to see how these elements influence each other. Findings reveal that technological advances, such as electric vehicles and smart traffic management, are tightly linked to environmental regulations: the stricter the emission rules, the more companies invest in innovation. Yet, supply‑chain disruptions—like delays in electronic component deliveries—hinder the rollout of these technologies. Adding to the problem is the lack of trained workers, making it harder to implement new systems and keep green fleets running. The study proposes three key actions: boost staff training, streamline supply‑chain logistics, and create incentives for clean‑tech adoption. If policymakers—governments and firms—follow these recommendations, Lithuania could turn its transport sector into a sustainability model for Europe.
The in‑depth analysis of the Lithuanian case relies on a multiple regression model that includes four independent variables: technological progress (TP), environmental restrictions (ER), supply‑chain obstacles (SCO), and workforce skills (WS). Estimated coefficients show that TP has a significant positive impact on sustainability (β=0.42, p<0.01), but its effectiveness is moderated by ER (interaction TP×ER, β=0.18, p<0.05). This suggests that environmental policies act as a catalyst for clean‑technology adoption. Conversely, SCO presents a strong negative coefficient (β=‑0.35, p<0.01), indicating that logistical disruptions reduce the capacity to implement innovations. Sensitivity analysis reveals that a 10% reduction in electronic component delivery times could increase electric vehicle adoption by 7%. Regarding WS, the coefficient is negative (β=‑0.27, p<0.05), meaning that a shortage of qualified staff amplifies SCO's negative effects and limits TP's benefit. Qualitative interviews uncovered that Lithuanian firms view continuous training as a long‑term investment but lament the lack of certification programs specific to sustainable mobility. Recommendations include: (i) development of university curricula with modules on electric propulsion systems and traffic data management; (ii) fiscal incentives for public‑private partnerships to create technical training centers; (iii) establishment of a national logistics hub to streamline distribution of critical components, cutting lead‑times by 15‑20%. Implementing these measures could raise the transport sector's sustainability index by roughly 0.3 points on a 0‑1 scale by 2030, aligning it with EU standards.
