Truck Driving Jobs in Europe for Foreign Drivers: Licences, Code 95, and Demand (2026)

Europe has a well-documented shortage of professional truck drivers. Industry bodies such as the IRU have reported hundreds of thousands of unfilled driver positions across the continent, and the driver workforce is ageing fast. For experienced drivers from outside the EU, this is one of the most realistic routes into European employment - but the licensing requirements are strict and widely misunderstood. Here is what you actually need.

The three things every EU truck driver needs

1. A category C or CE driving licence valid in the EU

Category C covers rigid trucks over 3.5 tonnes; category CE adds trailers - and CE is what most international haulage jobs require. A licence issued outside the EU is generally not enough to work as a professional driver in Europe long-term. Depending on the country and on whether your country has a licence exchange agreement, you will either exchange your licence or retake theory and practical tests in the EU. Rules vary a lot by country: some exchange licences from certain non-EU countries, others do not. Check the licensing authority of your target country before assuming anything.

2. Code 95 - the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)

Code 95 is a note on your licence showing you hold the EU professional driver qualification. It requires an initial qualification (exams and, for new drivers, training) and then 35 hours of periodic training every five years. Without Code 95, you cannot legally drive professionally in the EU, no matter how many years of experience you have at home. Non-EU drivers usually complete the qualification in the EU country where they are employed - many transport companies help fund this because they need drivers badly.

3. A tachograph driver card

EU trucks record driving and rest times digitally. You apply for your driver card in the country where you live and work. Learn the EU driving-time rules (daily and weekly limits, mandatory breaks) - violations cost drivers and employers real money.

The driver attestation for non-EU drivers

When an EU haulage company employs a non-EU national as a driver on international routes, it must obtain an EU driver attestation proving you are legally employed. This is the employer's job, not yours - but if a company wants you to drive internationally without one, that is a company you do not want to work for.

Where the demand is

Demand exists almost everywhere, with Poland and Lithuania standing out as the biggest employers of non-EU drivers - their fleets dominate international EU haulage and they have established processes for hiring drivers from abroad. Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Spain also hire heavily. Long-haul international work, refrigerated transport, and ADR (dangerous goods) drivers are in particular demand; an ADR certificate meaningfully raises your value.

Pay and conditions - the honest version

Driver pay varies enormously between countries and between local and international work, and quoted "salaries" often mix base pay with per-diem allowances, which affects your social security and pension. Ask for the breakdown in writing. Also know that the EU Mobility Package rules require drivers posted to higher-wage countries to be paid according to local rules for that work, and regulate how often you must return home. A good employer explains all this without being pushed.

Scams are common in driver recruitment. Nobody legitimate charges you for a job offer, a "guaranteed licence exchange", or a work visa. And never start driving before your permit and licence situation is fully legal - the driver, not just the company, faces the consequences.

The work permit side

Alongside the licensing, you still need the right to work: an employer-sponsored work permit in the country of employment. Several countries treat drivers as a shortage occupation, which simplifies the process. See our guide to EU work permits and visas explained and the documents you need to work in Europe.

This is general information, not legal advice. Licence exchange rules, Code 95 procedures, and permit requirements vary by country and change over time. Verify with the transport and immigration authorities of the country where you plan to work, or via eures.europa.eu and europa.eu.

Let transport companies find you

European haulage companies actively search for drivers abroad and are used to handling permits, attestations, and Code 95 training for the right candidate. Put your licence categories and experience where they can see them: Workuro is free for workers, employers contact you directly, and there are no agencies or fees, no credit card required. Take a few minutes to create your free profile and list your C/CE experience today.