Career change to truck driver: what you really need
Coming from a different field and thinking about switching to driving trucks? It starts with paperwork, not a polished CV. Anyone driving a lorry commercially in Germany needs professional driver qualifications on top of a licence. This page explains the steps and the order they come in.
We deliberately don't quote costs or timeframes here. Both depend on the training provider, the region and your personal starting point. What applies to you is assessed individually.
What you need to drive a truck
1. Driving licence category CE
Category CE covers combinations with a trailer or semi-trailer and is the standard for long-haul driving. Before training you'll need a medical check and an eye test.
2. Driver CPC under the BKrFQG
The licence alone isn't enough for commercial driving. Germany's Berufskraftfahrerqualifikationsgesetz (BKrFQG) requires either the full or the accelerated Driver CPC qualification, completed with an exam at the local Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).
3. Code 95 entry on your licence
Once the Driver CPC is proven, the licensing authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) adds code 95 to your driving licence. Without this entry you're not allowed to drive commercially.
4. Applying for a driver card
The driver card records driving and rest times on the digital tachograph. It's applied for through the responsible authority and must be in the vehicle on every trip.
5. Regular refresher training
The qualification has to be refreshed at fixed intervals through further training modules. Code 95 is then re-entered on the licence.
Funding
Whether funding for the licence or the Driver CPC is available is decided case by case by the Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency). Speak to your contact there before enrolling with a driving school. We can't promise or guarantee any approval.
A quick note
Requirements are always assessed individually. What applies in your case depends on your existing licence, your health and where you live. The driving school, the IHK and the licensing authority give binding answers.
Apprenticeship instead of retraining
A second route into the job is a regular apprenticeship. GV Trucknet trains at five locations across six professions, including professional truck driver. Prefer to start in the workshop or warehouse? A dedicated commercial vehicle workshop is part of the group, and warehouse training is offered too. Internal courses and coaching are also available.
- Große-Vehne Speditions GmbHKornwestheim near Stuttgart
- NTL Logistik GmbHKornwestheim near Stuttgart
- Große-Vehne transport und logistics GmbHKornwestheim near Stuttgart
- HSV Systemverkehre GmbHFriedewald
- Große-Vehne Marsberg GmbHMarsberg
- Guggemos Logistik GmbHMengkofen-Mühlhausen
- Ernst Schruff Spedition GmbH & Co. KGMönchengladbach
- Große-Vehne Mönchengladbach GmbHMönchengladbach
Open driver positions
Frequently asked questions about career change
Can I start without a CE licence?
For commercial truck driving you need at least category C, and CE for combinations with a trailer — plus the Driver CPC and code 95. Without these, working behind the wheel isn't possible. Starting in the warehouse or workshop doesn't require them, though.
Is the driving licence enough on its own?
No. Alongside the licence, the BKrFQG requires the Driver CPC. Only once that's done is code 95 added, and only then are you allowed to drive commercially.
What is code 95?
An entry on your driving licence confirming your professional driver qualification. It's added by the licensing authority once the Driver CPC is proven, and it has to be renewed through regular refresher training.
Does anyone cover the costs?
We can't make any statement on that. Possible funding is decided case by case by the Agentur für Arbeit — ask them before enrolling with a driving school.
Got the paperwork sorted? Take a look at the open positions.
Once your licence, Driver CPC and driver card are in place, you're ready to move straight on to driver positions across the group.
View open positions