Truck driver salary by country in Europe: a 2026 guide

A long-distance heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driver in Europe earns roughly EUR 1,300 to EUR 4,500 gross per month in 2026, with the median around EUR 2,400 once Western and Central-Eastern figures are pooled. Truck driver pay in Europe rose again in 2026, with IRU reporting around 426,000 unfilled HGV positions across the bloc in 2024 , and the gap projected to widen through 2028. This guide breaks pay down by country, separates gross from net, and explains why a Polish driver on German routes can take home almost as much as a Hamburg-based colleague.

The figures below assume a category C or C+E licence and a valid EU Driver Certificate of Professional Competence; if you are still mapping the qualification route, see the EU truck driver licensing route in our CPC guide .

How much does a truck driver earn in Europe in 2026?

A salaried HGV driver in the EU and the United Kingdom earns between EUR 1,300 and EUR 4,500 gross per month in 2026, with significant overlap once per-diem allowances are added. Eurostat data for NACE Section H (transportation and storage) shows the sector's hourly labour costs rose 4.1% across the euro area in 2024 , a consistent gain that has compounded through 2026.

The headline range conceals two stories. First, a Western-Central divide: a Dutch or German long-distance driver typically earns two to three times what a Hungarian or Romanian colleague earns on a domestic contract. Second, the cross-border premium: an Eastern European driver running international routes through Germany, the Netherlands or France earns substantially more than the local-route median back home, thanks to host-state pay rules from the Mobility Package.

Which European countries pay truck drivers the most?

The Netherlands and Germany sit at the top of the salaried-driver league in 2026, with Belgium, Austria and the Nordics close behind. The United Kingdom is now competitive with Germany at the Class 1 (C+E) tier following the post-2021 wage corrections that pushed long-haul rates above GBP 38,000 (about EUR 44,800) per year. France and Italy form the next tier, clustered around EUR 2,500 to EUR 3,000 gross monthly for an experienced driver on a national route.

Spain pays toward the lower end of Western Europe, with national base salaries reported by Indeed at around EUR 1,677 per month before allowances; many drivers stack dietas (per-diems) to reach EUR 2,500 to EUR 3,500 take-home. Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania anchor the bottom of the table for domestic contracts but rise sharply once a driver moves to international work.

What is the truck driver salary by country in Europe (full comparison table)?

The table below shows base gross pay for an experienced HGV driver (C+E, three or more years' experience) on a national or regional contract in 2026. International long-haul figures sit above these where indicated.

Figures rounded; non-euro currencies converted at May 2026 reference rates. Sources: ERI SalaryExpert country pages , national stat offices and sectoral collective agreements.

How much does a truck driver earn after tax in Germany, Poland and France?

Net pay diverges from gross by 20% to 40% across Europe, depending on each country's social-security and income-tax structure.

In Germany, a driver on the StepStone-reported median of EUR 3,000 gross per month takes home roughly EUR 2,000 net after Lohnsteuer, solidarity surcharge and social contributions in tax class I. A long-haul driver at the upper Bavaria range of EUR 3,500 gross sees about EUR 2,250 net, plus Verpflegungsmehraufwand of EUR 14 per day for trips over 8 hours and EUR 28 for full days away.

In Poland, a category C+E driver on PLN 7,750 (~EUR 1,745) gross takes home approximately EUR 1,150 net after ZUS contributions of around 13.7% and PIT at 12%. A Polish driver running international routes under a posting-pay arrangement, however, commonly takes home EUR 2,200 to EUR 3,000 net per month.

In France, a confirmed driver at coefficient 150M earning EUR 2,759 gross per month (EUR 33,108 per year basis) nets approximately EUR 2,100 after CSG, CRDS and pension contributions. Frais de route of EUR 14 to EUR 17 per meal plus overnight allowances of around EUR 70 can add EUR 800 to EUR 1,200 per month, pushing take-home into the EUR 3,000 to EUR 3,300 range.

How does the EU Mobility Package affect cross-border driver pay?

The Mobility Package I rewired cross-border driver pay in 2022 and the consequences are baked into 2026 wage structures. Directive (EU) 2020/1057 is the transport-specific application of the Posted Workers Directive: when a driver performs cabotage or cross-trade in a host EU country, they must be paid that country's full remuneration (not just minimum wage) for the duration of the posting, with an IMI declaration filed in advance. Bilateral and transit operations are excluded.

In practice, a Polish driver loading in Lyon and delivering in Marseille (a cabotage move) must be paid French rates for those days, including French overtime premiums and sectoral allowances. The European Labour Authority is targeting enforcement of posted-driver remuneration rules as a 2026 priority, with roadside checks of A1 forms, IMI declarations and payslips becoming routine in Germany, France and the Netherlands. For an operational walkthrough see our EU Mobility Package posting and cabotage rules guide .

The wage effect: the gross gap between Eastern and Western drivers has narrowed for international roles, even as it remains wide for purely domestic ones. Operators absorb the difference in their per-kilometre rate, which is why diesel and toll exposure matter more than ever — compare diesel prices by EU country on our fuel dashboard .

What is the gap between advertised gross and real take-home pay?

The advertised gross in a Western European job posting can be a third higher than the net a driver receives once tax, social contributions and pension are deducted. The wedge is widest in countries with strong social-protection systems — Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany — where it commonly sits at 30% to 38%. It is narrowest in flat-tax jurisdictions like Romania (10% income tax) and Hungary (15%), where take-home is closer to 60% to 70% of gross.

Per-diem and travel allowances complicate comparison: they are usually paid net of tax and sit outside the contract gross. A Spanish driver advertised at EUR 1,800 base may receive EUR 600 to EUR 1,200 in tax-free dietas on top. When benchmarking offers, ask for total monthly compensation broken into base, overtime, allowances and benefits, rather than headline gross.

Why are Polish drivers on German routes earning Western European wages?

Two structural forces have pushed cross-border Polish driver pay close to local-German levels. First, the Mobility Package's posting rules force host-state remuneration during cabotage and cross-trade segments, eliminating the largest source of wage arbitrage that Polish-flag operators previously enjoyed. Second, the chronic driver shortage in Western markets gives Eastern drivers willing to run international weeks substantial bargaining leverage on base pay.

Industry reporting tracks the convergence in detail. Recruitment-platform data for Poland shows experienced international CE drivers earning roughly EUR 2,700 to EUR 3,380 gross per month in 2026 — comparable to a mid-tier German national-route driver — although net often lags the German equivalent because of how posting allowances are taxed.

What benefits and per-diem allowances stack on top of base salary?

Total driver compensation in Europe regularly exceeds base gross by 20% to 50% once allowances, bonuses and benefits are layered in. The typical stack includes:

• Per-diem (travel) allowances: France pays around EUR 14 to 17 per meal plus overnight; Germany pays EUR 14 (partial day) and EUR 28 (full day) under Verpflegungsmehraufwand; Spanish dietas commonly add EUR 30 to 60 per workday on international routes.
• Mileage or kilometre bonuses: still common in Italy, Spain and Eastern Europe, often EUR 0.02 to 0.05 per km.
• ADR (dangerous-goods) premium: 10% to 20% uplift on base salary across most markets.
• Night, weekend and public-holiday premiums: typically 25% to 50% supplements per the relevant collective agreement.
• 13th and 14th-month payments: standard in Italy, Spain, Austria, Portugal and Greece.
• Pension and health top-ups: above-statutory employer pension contributions, increasingly used in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium to retain experienced drivers.

A driver evaluating two offers should normalise on annual take-home plus tax-free allowances, not on monthly gross. Working conditions also feed into effective hourly pay — compare HGV speed limits by country to see how route productivity changes with regulation.

How is the driver shortage moving wages in 2026 and beyond?

The driver shortage is the single largest force pushing European road-transport wages up. The IRU's 2024 report quantified roughly 426,000 unfilled HGV positions across Europe — almost double the 233,000 recorded in 2023 — and projected the gap could exceed 745,000 by 2028 absent intervention. The average European HGV driver is now 47, with one-third over 55 and fewer than 5% under 25, locking in a wave of retirements for the rest of the decade.

The wage consequence is broad-based upward pressure. German CBAs added 4.3% in October 2025 with another 4% scheduled for October 2026 ; Czech median pay rose 7% year-on-year through 2024; Dutch CAO Beroepsgoederenvervoer increases have run ahead of inflation since 2023. Operators are also reaching for non-wage levers — better cab specifications, predictable rosters, paid hotel overnights — because pay alone is not enough to attract under-25s. Drivers and dispatchers can explore current openings on the Logifie careers hub .

Frequently asked questions

What is the average truck driver salary in Germany in 2026?

The average German HGV driver earns around EUR 3,000 gross per month (approximately EUR 36,000 per year), based on StepStone reporting. Entry roles start near EUR 2,490 and experienced long-haul drivers in Bavaria can reach EUR 3,560 or more. The ver.di logistics collective bargaining agreement added 4.3% in October 2025 and is scheduled to add another 4% in October 2026.

Which European country pays truck drivers the most?

The Netherlands and Germany typically top the league for salaried HGV drivers in 2026, with experienced Dutch C+E drivers reaching EUR 3,500 to EUR 4,500 gross per month including ADR and international allowances. The United Kingdom is competitive at the Class 1 (C+E) tier, with long-haul packages reaching GBP 55,000 per year. Belgium, Austria and the Nordics also sit in the upper tier once collective-agreement increments and per-diems are counted.

How does the EU Mobility Package affect cross-border driver pay?

Under Directive (EU) 2020/1057, when a driver performs cabotage or cross-trade in a host country they must receive that country's full remuneration for the posted time, not just its minimum wage. Bilateral and transit operations are excluded. The European Labour Authority is targeting enforcement in 2026, with roadside checks of A1 forms, IMI declarations and payslips routine in Germany, France and the Netherlands.

What is the difference between gross and net truck driver pay in Europe?

The gross-to-net wedge ranges from roughly 20% in flat-tax Eastern European countries (Romania, Hungary) to 35% to 40% in Western Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands). A German EUR 3,000 gross monthly salary nets approximately EUR 2,000 in tax class I; a Polish EUR 1,745 gross nets roughly EUR 1,150 after ZUS and PIT. Per-diems and travel allowances are typically paid on top and taxed separately, lifting total take-home by 20% to 50% above base net.

Do per-diem allowances count towards truck driver salary in Europe?

Per-diems are not part of base salary in most European jurisdictions but they form a significant part of total compensation for long-distance and international drivers. Germany's Verpflegungsmehraufwand pays EUR 14 (partial day) and EUR 28 (full day); French frais de route adds roughly EUR 14 to EUR 17 per meal plus overnight; Spanish dietas commonly add EUR 600 to EUR 1,200 per month on international work.

Can a Polish truck driver earn German wages while working in Germany?

A Polish-employed driver running cabotage or cross-trade in Germany is entitled to German remuneration for those posted segments under Directive (EU) 2020/1057, including sectoral allowances and overtime premiums. Bilateral runs (Poland to Germany and back) remain on Polish pay. Experienced Polish drivers on mostly international routes now reach gross packages of EUR 3,000 to EUR 4,500 per month, close to German national-route levels.

How is the driver shortage affecting truck driver pay in 2026?

The IRU's 2024 report identified roughly 426,000 unfilled HGV positions across Europe, almost double the 233,000 recorded in 2023, with the gap projected to exceed 745,000 by 2028. The shortage is the dominant force pushing collective-agreement increments to 4% per year or more in Germany and the Netherlands, and median wage gains of 7% in the Czech Republic.

What benefits do truck drivers typically receive on top of base salary?

A typical 2026 European HGV driver package includes per-diem and travel allowances, ADR premium (10% to 20% uplift), mileage bonuses (still common in Spain, Italy and Eastern Europe), night and weekend supplements (25% to 50%), 13th and sometimes 14th-month payments (standard in Italy, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Greece), and above-statutory employer pension contributions in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Stacked together, these add 20% to 50% to base gross.

Carriers and owner-operators looking for steady European loads with transparent rates can explore available freight on the Logifie carrier network .