Truck Driver Jobs in the Netherlands for Foreign Drivers (2026)

The Netherlands punches far above its size in logistics. The port of Rotterdam, Schiphol air freight and a dense network of distribution centres for the whole of western Europe create constant demand for truck drivers. Dutch transport federations have described the driver shortage as structural, with thousands of unfilled vacancies and an ageing driver pool - so foreign drivers are actively discussed as part of the solution.

The permit route: single permit (GVVA)

For non-EU citizens, the standard route is the combined residence and work permit known as the GVVA (gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid), applied for by your Dutch employer through the IND with a labour-market check by UWV. The catch: the labour market test requires the employer to show no suitable candidate was available in the Netherlands or the EU. For drivers this is a real hurdle, but it is passable where the shortage is documented and the employer prepares the file properly. Trucking does not fit the highly skilled migrant scheme, which is salary-based and aimed at office professions - our overview of EU work permits and visas explains the difference.

Practical implication: you need an employer willing to run the GVVA process. Larger transport groups and specialised recruiters have done it before; a small family firm may not know where to start. Ask early in any interview.

Licence and Code 95 in the Netherlands

Commercial truck work requires a C or CE licence with Code 95. In the Netherlands, driving exams and professional competence are handled by CBR, with the professional part run by its CCV division.

• Most non-EU licences cannot be exchanged directly; unless your country is on the short exchange list, expect to take Dutch theory and practical exams for C/CE. Theory exams are available in a limited set of languages.
• Code 95 requires the basic professional qualification (vakbekwaamheid) and then 35 hours of refresher training (nascholing) every five years.
• The sector training fund SOOB subsidises much driver training; employers often use it to cover part of your course costs - worth asking about.

Pay: set by the CAO

Dutch trucking pay is governed by the collective labour agreement (CAO Beroepsgoederenvervoer), which sets wage scales, overtime rates and allowances that employers must follow. As a rough 2026 guide, gross monthly pay for a full-time truck driver typically lands around 2,700 to 3,400 euros depending on scale and experience, before overtime and untaxed daily allowances for nights away. Structural overtime is common and materially increases take-home pay. Treat these as hedged ranges and check the current CAO tables.

Domestic vs international work

A large share of Dutch driving is domestic and Benelux distribution: container haulage from Rotterdam, supermarket distribution, flowers and fresh produce, and parcel linehaul. You are home most nights, which many drivers value. International work towards Germany, France and Scandinavia adds allowances but means nights out. Specialisations that lift pay include container chassis work with port passes, refrigerated transport and ADR tanker work.

Cost of living

Housing is the hard part - the Randstad rental market is tight and expensive. Drivers often live in smaller towns in Brabant, Gelderland or Limburg, where logistics hubs cluster and rents are lower. Some employers arrange initial housing; confirm the cost and conditions in writing before you travel.

Be cautious with intermediaries: nobody legitimate charges workers for a job offer, and Dutch law is strict about employment agencies. If an agent asks you to pay for a "guaranteed contract and permit", walk away.

How to improve your chances

Because the labour-market test makes Dutch permits harder than in some neighbouring countries, target the employers most likely to succeed with the paperwork: larger haulage groups, container specialists around Rotterdam and Venlo, and agencies with a track record of GVVA applications. Document your experience thoroughly - years behind the wheel, vehicle types, refrigerated or container work, clean-record statements - because a strong file helps the employer argue the case to UWV. A basic Dutch course, even A1 level started online before arrival, is repeatedly mentioned by Dutch employers as the thing that separates candidates. And if a Dutch offer stalls, Belgium and Germany next door use different rules for the same driving skills.

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules and thresholds change - verify with the Dutch immigration service IND (ind.nl) and UWV before making decisions.

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