The German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMV) is working on legal changes intended to ease the shortage of truck drivers – a problem that in recent years has become one of the biggest challenges for the transport industry in Germany. The new regulations are set to take effect in the coming months and enable faster integration of workers from Ukraine, Syria and Turkey.
More languages, shorter exams
The most important change to the Verordnung über die Berufskraftfahrerqualifikation (Ordinance on the qualification of professional drivers) is the option to take the accelerated qualification exam not only in German, but also in eight other languages. In addition to Ukrainian, Turkish and Classical Arabic, English, Croatian, Polish, Romanian and Russian will also be available.
“The aim is to reduce language barriers and enable more people to enter the profession of professional driver,” the ministry explains in the rationale for the draft, obtained by dvz.de.
In addition, facilitations during the exams are planned:
- the driving time as part of the initial qualification will be reduced by 30 minutes,
- the part of the exam covering how to deal with critical situations will be removed entirely, allowing the exam to be shortened by a further 60 minutes,
- exams as part of vocational training will be allowed to be retaken multiple times, not just once as before.
Easier recognition of driving licences from third countries
BMV is also planning changes to the Fahrerlaubnisverordnung (Driving Licence Ordinance), which are intended to make it easier to exchange driving licences from Montenegro and Ukraine. For Ukrainians, obtaining a category B driving licence will be simplified, which is necessary in order to later exchange category C and D licences.
Until now, Ukrainians could limit the exchange of their driving licence to domestic conditions; now they will first have to obtain category B. The number of languages in which a German driving licence can be obtained will be expanded to include Ukrainian and Kurmanji – a language used by Kurds in Turkey, Syria and Iraq.
Spain turns to drivers from Turkey
A similar staffing problem also affects Spain, where road transport is facing a growing worker shortage. The sector employs more than 390,000 drivers, but around 30,000 positions remain unfilled, i.e. almost 10% of the active workforce.
The situation is worsened by demographic structure – most drivers are between 45 and 55 years old, and over the next decade as many as one third of today’s workforce may retire. The Fenadismer organisation stresses that the staff shortage already limits companies’ growth and the market’s operational stability.
In response to staffing shortages, Spain has opted for cooperation with Turkey. The international agreement provides for the recruitment, training and legal employment of Turkish drivers, who are expected to support the market in the short term.
The Turkish government has prepared a dedicated recruitment service aimed at more than 300,000 drivers looking for work. The project includes comprehensive preparation for work in Spain, including:
- obtaining qualifications within the Spanish transport system,
- language training,
- legalisation of residence and documents,
- accommodation and meals during training.
Europe is testing different models to tackle the shortage
Both the German regulatory changes and the Spanish foreign recruitment model show that the driver shortage is becoming a structural problem for European transport. Countries are choosing different strategies – from administrative facilitations to international employment programmes – but the goal remains the same: stabilising the market and maintaining supply chain continuity.
