Is my foreign licence enough to drive a truck in Germany?

No: the foreign licence must be converted and, for the heavy vehicle, a new test is usually required, on top of code 95.

It is the compulsory professional driver qualification entered on the licence, without which you cannot drive professionally.

Truck driver

A shortage occupation in Germany, where your experience on the road can become a stable and well paid job.

All sectors

The profession

The truck driver transports goods by lorry, loads and secures the freight, plans routes and respects driving and rest times.

Salary

The median entry salary is around 2,770 €/month, often 2,900 to 3,400 € with the C/CE licences, and the median across all experience levels is around 3,048 €/month (range 2,614 to 3,614 €) (source: Entgeltatlas, Bundesagentur für Arbeit, 2026).

Employers hiring

Employers include DHL Freight, DACHSER, DB Schenker, Kühne und Nagel, Hellmann and Rhenus.

Prospects

Prospects are very strong: the truck driver is officially a shortage occupation (Engpassberuf) recognised by the Federal Employment Agency, with a shortfall of several tens of thousands of drivers (source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit, 2024).

Career progression

You can move up to specialised driver (dangerous goods, tanker), trainer or freight planner (Disponent).

Language level

On the ground, safety instructions, directions and documentation are in German. B2 is the standard employers expect, and that is the level we aim for.

Diploma recognition

To drive a heavy vehicle, your foreign licence must be converted (Umschreibung) and, for the C/CE classes, the German test generally has to be retaken; you also need the professional driver qualification (Grundqualifikation, code 95) and a medical examination. The simplest route is often to train in Germany, which combines licence and qualification. We guide you and start the procedures with you.

Visa

The main routes are the skilled worker visa with a recognised qualification, the recognition partnership which since March 2024 allows you to enter and work while completing recognition on site (level A2 required), and the Chancenkarte to come and look for a job. The EU Blue Card, reserved for university profiles, does not apply to these occupations. We check your eligibility and build the file with you.

Your Karriere Fähre support

We train you in German up to the level you need, get your qualification recognised, present your profile to German employers, prepare the visa file and support you all the way to your arrival.

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Frequently asked questions

Is my foreign licence enough to drive a truck in Germany?: No: the foreign licence must be converted and, for the heavy vehicle, a new test is usually required, on top of code 95.
What is code 95?: It is the compulsory professional driver qualification entered on the licence, without which you cannot drive professionally.

Indicative gross ranges from public German sources (Federal Employment Agency, Entgeltatlas, Gehalt.de, StepStone, IHK). In logistics and transport, pay follows the collective agreement and the sector minimum wage, and varies by region, employer and experience. Recognition, visa and driving-licence rules change: always check your case with the competent German authorities.