Truck driver salary in Europe per hour (2026)
Truck driver salary in Europe per hour ranges from EUR 8 to 26 in 2026, with country-by-country and daily-pay figures for Germany, Poland and Romania.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
Truck drivers in Europe earn roughly EUR 8 to 26 per hour in 2026, depending on country. Eastern European rates, in Poland and Romania, sit around EUR 8 to 11 per hour, while Germany and the Netherlands pay close to EUR 23 per hour and Ireland's CE-licence drivers earn EUR 18 to 26 per hour.
That range mirrors a wider pay gap across the European Union. Eurostat's 2025 hourly labour cost data puts whole-economy pay at EUR 12.0 in Bulgaria against EUR 56.8 in Luxembourg and EUR 47.9 in the Netherlands, the same east-west pattern visible in the truck driver figures below. A persistent EU driver shortage is pushing hourly pay upward, since operators facing empty cabs increasingly compete on wages rather than headcount alone.
What is the daily pay for a truck driver in Europe?
A literal day rate is not standard across the EU. Most carriers pay a monthly salary plus a per diem allowance for nights away from base, rather than a fixed daily wage. Using an 8-hour shift as a conversion base, the EUR 8 to 26 hourly range works out to roughly EUR 65 to 210 for a single working day, before any allowance is added. Germany's tax-free meal allowance, the Verpflegungsmehraufwand , adds EUR 14 to 28 per day away from home, and Spain's dietas for professional drivers reach up to EUR 91.35 per day tax-free on international routes with an overnight stay, both paid on top of, not instead of, the hourly or monthly wage.
Which European countries pay truck drivers the most per hour?
Western and Nordic countries consistently pay the highest hourly rates, while central and eastern Europe pay markedly less for the same HGV licence category. The table below gives hourly-equivalent figures for four representative countries, based on 2026 national salary data for heavy truck drivers ; the full country-by-country breakdown, including net pay after tax and social contributions, is covered if you browse Logifie's truck driver salary guide for every European country .
| Country | Hourly rate (approx, EUR) |
|---|---|
| Germany | ~23 |
| Netherlands | ~23 |
| Poland | ~10 to 11 |
| Romania | ~8 |
Fleets recruiting across borders can advertise open driving roles to reach candidates who are already comparing pay by country, and carriers looking to close the gap without simply chasing the highest bidder can track and cut dock waiting time with Logifie's driver assistant app.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a truck driver earn per hour in Germany?
A heavy goods vehicle driver in Germany earns approximately EUR 23 per hour in 2026, equivalent to around EUR 47,690 gross per year, based on national salary data for heavy truck drivers . Rates vary by region, employer size and whether the role is domestic or international.
How much does a truck driver earn per day in Europe?
Converting the EUR 8 to 26 hourly range to an 8-hour shift gives roughly EUR 65 to 210 per working day before allowances. International drivers usually receive a separate, often tax-advantaged per diem for nights spent away from base, paid in addition to this day-rate equivalent, not folded into it.
Do truck drivers in Europe get paid per diem allowances on top of their wage?
Yes. Most EU countries treat per diem payments for international trips as a separate allowance rather than part of the base hourly or monthly wage. Germany, for example, pays a fixed daily meal allowance on top of salary, and several other countries apply similar rules for time spent away from the home base.
Which European country pays truck drivers the least per hour?
Among the countries with reliable 2026 salary data, Romania and Poland report the lowest hourly-equivalent pay, at roughly EUR 8 to 11 per hour, well below Germany and the Netherlands at around EUR 23 per hour and Ireland's EUR 18 to 26 per hour range for CE-licence articulated drivers .
Ready to see how driver cost and availability compare across your lanes? Request a compliance-aware freight quote from Logifie's European carrier network.
