Truck drivers 2027: 7 things that get worse and 3 that get better

For truck drivers, 2027 mostly brings new bills and new boxes to tick, and the good news is smaller and sits mostly on payslips in four countries. Germany raises its minimum wage from 13.90 to 14.60 EUR gross per hour on 2027-01-01 ( MiLoV5, German Federal Ministry of Justice, issued 2025-11-05 ), and Lithuania starts distance-based Via Toll on the same day. This post ranks ten changes by what they do to the driver personally, backs each one with a dated source, and says plainly which ones are not law yet.

The list has seven burdens, not ten, because three candidates could not be confirmed from a primary source.

What will change for truck drivers in 2027?

Seven changes add cost or paperwork, mostly on roads and at the pump, and three reduce pressure through higher wage floors, a delayed carbon price and a paperwork rule. The table below ranks all ten. Status is as of 2026-11-07, and four of the seven burdens are not final: Germany, the Netherlands, Alsace and Denmark.

How the ranking works

Each item is placed by three tests. The first is how directly it hits the driver, from the cab and the roadside fine through the pump to the payslip. The second is how many drivers it reaches. The third is certainty, which counts for less than the first two: Germany ranks second although it is not law yet, because it reaches every litre bought in Germany, while Denmark ranks last because it is still only a bill with rates not final. The Status column shows certainty for every row. The gains follow the same tests.

This ranking is about the driver, so it differs from the country-by-country rules list in our guide to the new rules for truck drivers in 2027 .

What gets worse for truck drivers in 2027?

Seven changes get worse, led by tolls that start on 2027-01-01 and a German carbon price that still needs a final vote. A fair caveat applies to several of them: the status of each change differs, and four of the seven are not final.

W1. Lithuania: Via Toll starts on 2027-01-01

Lithuania ranks first because the date is fixed, the fine is 700 to 1,000 EUR and the rates are already approved. The operator, Via Lietuva , states that Via Toll starts on 2027-01-01 and that the fine is 700 to 1,000 EUR. Rates were approved and published on 2026-06-30.

The 2026 vignettes end when Via Toll starts, with the last valid day on 2026-12-31, and the operator provides refunds for the unused period. The average rate is 11.1 euro cents per km for a Euro VI vehicle with up to 3 axles and over 12 t, according to LRT and BNS on 2026-07-01 . That figure comes from LRT, not from the operator page. Rates for each country are in our EU truck toll changes guide .

W2. Germany: a national CO2 price of 55 to 65 EUR per tonne

Germany ranks second because it reaches every litre of diesel bought in the country, but it is not law yet. The Bundestag passed the Third Act amending the BEHG on 2026-10-15, with 303 votes in favour, 210 against and 52 abstentions ( Deutscher Bundestag, read 2026-11-07 ). The Bundesrat deadline is 2026-11-20, and no promulgation had happened on 2026-11-07.

The per-litre effect is a Logifie calculation, not an official figure. Using 2.676 kg of CO2 per litre of diesel, the corridor works out at 14.7 to 17.4 cents net and 17.5 to 20.7 cents with 19% VAT. The first 2026 auction on 2026-07-01 cleared at 65 EUR, the upper limit. Owner-operators feel this at the pump directly, while employed drivers feel it through employer cost pressure. Current prices are on the German fuel price page , and the calculation is explained in our German CO2 price post .

W3. Netherlands: the toll discount ends and rates rise by 2.6%

The Dutch change ranks third because it is an announced rise, but the amounts are provisional. RDW news of 2026-08-20 describes a 2.6% indexation, with Euro VI diesel vehicles over 32 t at 20.6 euro cents per km in 2027. RDW states that the amounts are not yet officially established.

A 22.3% discount runs from 2026-09-01 to 2026-12-31 and ends on 2027-01-01. The amounts are provisional, so no total increase is given here. The rates are compared in the 2027 toll changes guide .

W4. Sweden: the road charge reaches every goods vehicle over 3,500 kg

Sweden is the only toll item in this list that is already in law. In the version of Lag 1997:1137 in force from 2027-03-26, section 5 covers goods vehicles over 3,500 kg , where today the threshold is 12,000 kg. Vehicles under 12 t get separate lower rates under section 11 a, and zero-emission vehicles of 4,250 kg or less are exempt.

The drivers newly caught are those on rigid trucks between 3.5 t and 12 t. It ranks fourth because it starts later in the year, on 2027-03-26, and newly catches only rigid trucks between 3.5 t and 12 t. The Swedish rule is listed in the 2027 rules overview .

W5. Slovakia: a new toll system and a new on-board unit

Slovakia is a setup burden, not a price rise. The NDS page says the current system ends on 2026-12-31 and the new one starts on 2027-01-01, with prepaid registration from 2026-12-01. EETS users need no new registration, and prepaid mode needs a refundable deposit for the on-board unit (OBU).

Cargo Magazín reported on 2026-10-14 that each vehicle needs a new unit, while rates, road network and vehicle categories stay unchanged. The risk for a driver is arriving at the border without a working unit. Source: EU truck tolls 2027 .

W6. France: R-Pass in Alsace is planned, not guaranteed

The Alsace R-Pass is planned for 2027-01-01 and applies to vehicles over 3.5 t. The operator tariff page , accessed on 2026-10-23, lists Euro VI rates of 7.4 to 14.6 centimes per km by weight class on the A35, the A36 and four departmental roads. The page could not be reopened on 2026-11-07 because of a certificate error, so the tariff should be rechecked before travel.

A legal challenge is pending. The FNTR filed a suspensive appeal at the Strasbourg administrative court, as Le Journal des entreprises reported on 2025-12-22 . No ruling was found on 2026-11-07, so the start is not guaranteed and the tariff may change. Source: EU truck tolls 2027 .

W7. Denmark: a km toll for trucks over 3.5 t may start on 2027-01-05

Denmark ranks last because it is a bill, not law. The Danish operator says trucks of 12 t and over have paid since 2025-01-01, and that trucks over 3.5 t are expected to pay from 2027-01-05 if Parliament passes the legislative proposal. Rates are not final.

For drivers of lighter trucks this is a plan to watch, not a cost to budget yet. See the 2027 rules overview for how it fits with the other national changes.

What gets better for truck drivers in 2027?

Three things get better, and the first is the only one that puts money in a driver's account. The other two remove a cost or a burden that was expected in 2027, and neither promises a direct gain on the road.

B1. Minimum wages rise in four countries

Wage floors rank first among the gains because they are in law or decided, and they land on the payslip. Germany moves from 13.90 to 14.60 EUR gross per hour on 2027-01-01 under MiLoV5 , issued on 2025-11-05. That is about 2,531 EUR gross per month at 40 hours, which is own arithmetic published in the 2027 rules overview.

The other three, as set out in our minimum wage guide :

• Poland: 4,806 to 4,950 PLN per month, published in Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1213 on 2026-09-15, plus a 32.30 PLN per hour floor for civil-law contracts only.
• Czechia: 22,400 to 24,900 CZK per month, by government decision of 2026-09-07.
• Lithuania: 1,153 to 1,245 EUR per month and 7.61 EUR per hour, under Government Resolution No. 509 of 2026-07-01.

These are statutory floors, not sector pay, so they help drivers paid near the minimum and change little for drivers already well above it. For international work, the wage floor depends on posting rules under Directive (EU) 2020/1057. Three countries were still open on 2026-10-31: Romania has 4,325 RON with an intention to keep it, Spain has no 2027 figure, and Portugal has 970 EUR times 14 scheduled but not yet law.

B2. ETS2 moves from 2027 to 2028

The EU carbon price on road fuel does not start in 2027. According to the European Commission ETS2 page, updated 2026-09-02 , the system is fully operational in 2028, with the first surrender on 2029-05-31. The Council gave final approval on 2026-03-05.

One caveat matters for anyone who drives in Germany: the delay does not remove the German national price described under W2. The claim "no carbon cost on diesel in 2027" is wrong for Germany. The timeline is covered in our ETS2 start date post .

B3. eFTI: authorities must accept electronic freight information from 2027-07-09

From 2027-07-09, Member State authorities must accept freight information shared through certified eFTI platforms, as the European Commission eFTI page confirms under Regulation (EU) 2020/1056. It is in law, and it ranks third because it mainly helps carriers.

It reduces paper in the cab only if the carrier uses a certified platform. No source shows fewer roadside checks for drivers, so the gain is paperwork, not time saved at inspections. See the 2027 rules overview for how it sits beside the other rules.

What does not change for truck drivers in 2027?

Several widely discussed items do not change on 2027-01-01, and knowing them avoids wasted worry. The Swiss LSVA does not rise on 2027-01-01, because the Council of States treated motion 25.3956 as rejected, according to Swiss Parliament news of 2026-06-03.

Euro 7 does not apply to trucks in 2027. For heavy-duty vehicles it applies from 2028-05-29 to new types and from 2029-05-29 to all new vehicles, and only to new trucks. An ACEA request of 2026-10-20 for a delay had not been adopted as of 2026-11-05. The dates are in our Euro 7 trucks guide .

The truck licence at 18 with a full CPC is old law under Directive (EU) 2018/645. Directive (EU) 2025/2205 entered into force on 2025-11-25 with a transposition deadline of 2028-11-26, and accompanied driving at 17 is optional for Member States. Read more in our licence directive guide .

What should truck drivers do before 2027-01-01?

Most of the useful actions are small checks that cost little time in November and December. Work through them in this order:

1. If you drive in Lithuania, note that the 2026 vignette is valid until 2026-12-31 and that the operator provides refunds for the unused period. Check the Via Lietuva page for how the refund works.
2. If you drive in Slovakia, confirm with your carrier that the vehicle has the new on-board unit, and note that prepaid registration opens on 2026-12-01. EETS users need no new registration, according to the NDS page.
3. If you buy diesel in Germany, watch the Bundesrat outcome on 2026-11-20 and ask your employer how a rise would be handled.
4. If you are paid near a wage floor, compare your first 2027 payslip with the new figure for your country.
5. If you route through Alsace or Denmark, check the current status before you plan, because both can still change.
6. Ask your carrier by 2027-07-09 whether it uses a certified eFTI platform.

The one change that needs no action is the ETS2 delay, since it removes a cost that would have started in 2027.

Frequently asked questions

Will truck drivers earn more in 2027?

Some will. Germany rises from 13.90 to 14.60 EUR gross per hour on 2027-01-01, and Poland, Czechia and Lithuania have set higher monthly floors. These are statutory minimums, so drivers already paid above them may see no change.

Will tolls go up in 2027?

In several countries, yes, though the amounts differ. Lithuania starts distance-based Via Toll, Sweden widens its charge to goods vehicles over 3,500 kg from 2027-03-26, and the Netherlands indexes rates by 2.6% while its discount ends. Slovakia keeps its rates unchanged but requires a new on-board unit.

Is there a carbon cost on diesel in 2027?

In Germany, probably yes, but it is not yet law. The corridor of 55 to 65 EUR per tonne works out at about 17.5 to 20.7 cents per litre with VAT, by a Logifie calculation. The EU-wide ETS2 does not start until 2028.

Do truck drivers need a new licence in 2027?

No. The truck licence at 18 with a full CPC is already law under Directive (EU) 2018/645. The newer licence directive has a transposition deadline of 2028-11-26.

Is Euro 7 mandatory for trucks in 2027?

No. Heavy-duty Euro 7 applies to new types from 2028-05-29 and to all new vehicles from 2029-05-29, and it covers new trucks only.

Drivers and fleet managers who want to see what the new tolls and fuel costs do to a real route can run the numbers in the freight calculator .