Is truck driving still worth it in 2027? For some yes, for others no
Is truck driving worth it in 2027? Net pay estimates for Denmark, Germany and Romania, licence costs, shortage data and who should skip it.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
Truck driving is worth it in 2027 for some drivers, but mostly not on a minimum-wage contract in a low-floor country. Denmark pays about 3,440 EUR net a month, Germany about 2,075 EUR at median pay and Romania about 505 EUR on the minimum wage (editorial estimates).
Is truck driving worth it in 2027 for the money?
Net figures here are editorial estimates for a single person in 2025, built from gross pay and the Eurostat net-to-gross share, and they exclude allowances. Denmark leads at about 3,440 EUR a month (5,220 EUR gross, Statistics Denmark table LONS20, updated 2026-09-29). The Netherlands follows at about 2,460 EUR (TLN scale D midpoint, scale from 2026-07-01), then Germany at about 2,075 EUR (Bundesagentur Entgeltatlas, 2026). The country pay ranking has the full comparison.
Romania shows why adverts need careful reading. The 4,325 RON minimum wage gives about 505 EUR net (810 EUR gross, estimate). A headline of about 2,430 EUR appears only with about 22 full days of diurna (daily allowance) at 87.50 EUR, and allowances build little or no pension base. Ask how much of an advert is salary.
Germany's minimum wage rises from 13.90 to 14.60 EUR gross per hour on 2027-01-01 ( MiLoV5 , issued 2025-11-05). Romania has only stated an intention to keep 4,325 RON, not a government decision, as of 2026-10-28 ( Undelucram ). Floors cover all employees; see the 2027 minimum wage guide .
Entry cost also counts. C, CE and initial CPC run about 4,000 to 5,500 EUR in Germany and 1,650 to 2,700 EUR in Romania before subsidies (approximate 2026 market ranges). In Germany that is about two to three months of the 2,075 EUR net estimate, by our arithmetic. Carriers often fund training through bonds of 12 to 24 months, and the Bildungsgutschein can cover up to 100% for unemployed or retraining candidates. The licence cost guide lists more countries.
Who should not become a truck driver in 2027?
Skip it if your realistic offer is a minimum-wage contract in a low-floor country, or if you expect the shortage alone to lift your pay.
| Worth it if | Probably not worth it if |
|---|---|
| You can work on a high-pay scale such as Denmark (about 3,440 EUR net, estimate) or the Netherlands (about 2,460 EUR net, estimate) | You would sit on a minimum-wage contract in a low-floor country such as Romania, where the 2027 floor is flat so far |
| A carrier bond or a Bildungsgutschein covers your training | You must pay 4,000 to 5,500 EUR for a German licence yourself |
| Most of the advertised pay is basic salary | Most of the headline pay is allowance, which builds little or no pension base |
Jobs are not the problem. The IRU report of 2026-06-30 counts about 502,000 unfilled truck driver positions in Europe in 2025, a 13% shortage rate. No source gives a 2027 count or ties the shortage to a 2027 wage, so treat it as evidence of job availability only. The shortage analysis has more.
Frequently asked questions
Is trucking a good career in Europe in 2027?
It can be for drivers who reach a Danish, Dutch or German contract, which pay about 2,075 to 3,440 EUR net a month (2025 estimates), and who can fund the licence. It is a weak bet at a statutory-floor wage.
How much does it cost to become a truck driver in Europe?
Approximate 2026 market ranges for C, CE and initial CPC are 3,400 to 5,200 EUR in the Netherlands, 2,600 to 4,400 EUR in Spain and 2,100 to 3,300 EUR in Poland, before subsidies. Germany runs about 4,000 to 5,500 EUR, and carrier bonds often fund training.
What are the downsides of being a long-haul truck driver?
In allowance-heavy contracts, pay depends on days away from home, and allowances build little or no pension base. Ask any carrier for the expected days away and the salary-allowance split in writing.
Browse current driver roles on the careers page .
