Germany currently lacks more than 70,000 truck drivers and around 7,800 bus drivers. A third of all professional drivers are over 55; every year 30,000 to 35,000 retire while only 15,000 to 20,000 enter the profession. By 2030 the gap will grow to around 200,000 drivers according to BGL and bdo. Domestic recruitment and career changers have failed to cover demand for years: the problem is demographic, not cyclical.
For you this means: every unfilled driver seat leaves revenue and contribution margin on the table month after month – with an idle truck that quickly adds up to 11,000 to 15,000 euros per month. In 2026 the legislator significantly simplified the path for drivers from third countries: extended recognition of driving licences, the Chamber of Commerce exam in nine foreign languages and, with Section 24a of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV), a dedicated, predictable visa route. We walk this path with you.
A driver from a third country needs two things, and neither replaces the other. First, the German driving licence (C/CE for trucks, D/DE for buses) from the driving licence authority: for most countries of origin – Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, Georgia or India, for example – this requires the full German theory and practical test; only for a few, such as Albania and Kosovo, is the licence exchanged without a test. Second, the EU professional driver qualification via the Chamber of Commerce (IHK): a 140-hour course plus exam, evidenced by Code 95. It applies equally to all countries – professional experience from third countries is not recognised, not even after 15 years behind the wheel.
Important to know: the six-month transition period for a foreign driving licence covers private journeys only. From day one, your driver may drive commercially only with a German licence and a driver qualification card. Two procedures at two authorities – we manage both, in parallel rather than one after the other.
The biggest time sink in international recruitment is usually language training before departure. Our candidates from Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt already bring German with them – many speak A2 at the interview, bus drivers arrive with B1. Employment contract and language certificate are therefore available early, and the visa process under Section 24a BeschV starts immediately. We handle the approval of the Federal Employment Agency and the embassy appointment.
The exams are no longer a language barrier either: since August 2026 the EU driver qualification exam can be taken in Modern Standard Arabic, Turkish and English, among others, and so can the driving licence theory test. German keeps growing in parallel in the free BAMF vocational language course. From arrival, the driver is employed by you and working – in the warehouse, for example – while driving school, course and language support run at the same time. Time in Germany is working time, not waiting time.
Our fee is split into three instalments along the milestones: after the interview, after arrival and only at the end, once your driver is ready to work. If a driver does not arrive, we provide a replacement free of charge. If a driver leaves during the probationary period, we refill the position at a reduced price. Fair recruitment is our principle: the employer bears the costs, never the driver – with full transparency under Section 299 of the Social Code III (SGB III) and the experience of hundreds of international placements in healthcare.
Qualification in Germany is almost cost-neutral for you: the 140-hour course and driving school preparation run through AZAV-certified partners and are eligible for funding under Section 82 SGB III – up to 100 percent for small and medium-sized enterprises, including a wage subsidy for training time. The BAMF vocational language course is free of charge. Let us clarify your needs – 30 minutes are enough. For the first three companies we offer a pilot partnership at special conditions.
