Truck licence at 18 in 2027: will it fix the driver shortage or put teenagers in 40-tonne trucks?
A truck licence at 18 is not new and nothing starts in 2027. See the EU age rules, the optional 17 scheme from 2028 and what it means for the shortage.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
A truck licence at 18 is not a 2027 change: 18 with a full CPC was already allowed before the 2025 directive, and 21 applies without it. The only new item is an optional accompanied option at 17 from 2028-11-26, which excludes CE. It will not fix the shortage.
Can you get a truck licence at 18 in the EU?
Yes, with the full initial qualification. Article 7(1)(e) of Directive (EU) 2025/2205 , published on 2025-11-05, sets 18 for categories C and CE "provided that the driver holds a certificate of professional competence (CPC)". Article 7(1)(d) sets 21 without it. Category C covers rigid trucks, while CE is the articulated combination.
| Route | Minimum age and condition |
|---|---|
| C or CE with full CPC | 18 |
| C or CE without CPC | 21 |
| Accompanied C1, C1E or C (optional) | 17, national territory only, adult 24+ beside the driver; CE excluded |
The 17 option sits in Article 17. Member States may issue these licences, the applicant needs the full CPC, and the passenger must be at least 24 with more than 5 years in the category. Article 17 applies from 2028-11-26, and as of 2026-11-07 no Member State had formally decided to adopt it. Our directive guide has the transposition dates, and the minimum age overview lists the age by route.
Will a truck licence at 18 fix the driver shortage?
Not in 2027, because the 18 rule is not new and the 17 option cannot start before late 2028. The IRU Global Driver Shortage Report , published on 2026-06-30, counts about 502,000 unfilled truck driver positions in Europe in 2025, a 13% shortage rate. Our shortage analysis explains why the 17 option cannot reduce that gap in 2027.
IRU still backs the 17 option. On 2025-10-22 IRU welcomed letting 17-year-olds start professional driving under supervision to attract younger workers. Raluca Marian, IRU EU Director, added: "The focus now turns to consistent application by Member States."
Is it safe to put young drivers in heavy trucks?
Safety and labour groups say the risk is real. On 2024-02-28 the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) opposed the Parliament vote, and Antonio Avenoso said: "Having thousands more teenagers driving lorries and cars is an affront to everything we know about road safety risk." That ETSC statement predates the final text, in which the truck scheme became optional. ETSC also said the labour shortage should be tackled through working conditions.
On 2025-03-26 the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF), a trade union federation, wrote that "allowing a teenager to drive a 40-tonne lorry or a 21-year-old to drive a bus risks serious consequences for road safety" ( ETF release ). The 17 option excludes CE and requires an adult in the cab, but an 18-year-old with a full CPC may already drive CE.
For a young driver the practical route is 18 with a full CPC, available now through your national authority. The 17 option waits on a national decision.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 17-year-old drive a truck in Europe?
Not yet. The optional scheme applies from 2028-11-26 only where a Member State adopts it, covers C1, C1E and C, and works only on national territory with an adult 24+ beside the driver.
What is the minimum age for a C licence without CPC?
The minimum age is 21 under Article 7(1)(d) of Directive (EU) 2025/2205. With the full CPC it is 18.
Can an 18-year-old drive an articulated truck?
Yes, with category CE and a full CPC. The 17 option is the one that excludes CE.
Are young truck drivers more dangerous?
ETSC cites research by German insurers that HGV drivers aged 18 to 20 cause a higher share of injury collisions, but it gives no figures. Treat it as a qualitative claim.
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