How to Get Truck Driver Jobs in Austria?

Truck driving is one of the most in-demand jobs in Austria, and there are clear, well-supported routes into it — whether you already live in Austria or are looking to move there for work. The transport sector faces a persistent driver shortage, so employers are actively recruiting and often help with training. This guide explains how to get a truck driver job in Austria: the licence and qualifications you need, how the process differs for EU and non-EU applicants, the types of work available, and how to find and apply for roles. When you are ready to look, browse current truck driver jobs on FastDriver.eu.

Why Austria needs truck drivers

Austria sits at the heart of European transport routes, and its haulage sector depends on a steady supply of drivers. With a well-documented driver shortage and many drivers approaching retirement, operators are keen to recruit, and public and industry schemes exist to help people qualify. For anyone with the right licences, that means strong demand and good prospects.

EU and non-EU applicants: who can work

How you approach a truck driving job in Austria depends on your nationality. Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland have free access to the Austrian labour market and can work as drivers without a permit. Non-EU (third-country) nationals generally need a residence-and-work permit — most commonly the Red-White-Red Card — before they can take up employment. This is covered in more detail below.

Step 1: Get the right licence

The foundation is the correct Austrian licence. After a Category B car licence, you move up the goods-vehicle ladder: C1 for medium trucks, C for larger rigid trucks, and CE for articulated lorries and drawbar combinations, which unlocks the widest and best-paid work. Our driving licence in Austria page explains the legal ages, medical requirements, and training involved.

Step 2: Get Code 95

To drive a truck professionally, you need Code 95, the professional qualification known in Austria as the Fahrerqualifizierungsnachweis (C95 for goods transport). It involves an initial qualification, 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years, and holding it also lets you start driving trucks at 18 rather than 21. See our guide to Code 95 in Austria.

Step 3: Get your driver’s card

Professional drivers record their driving, breaks and rest with a tachograph, so you need a driver tachograph card (Fahrerkarte). You apply for it in person through a motoring club; it costs a modest fee and is valid for five years. Our guide to tachographs in Austria explains how to get and use one.

Step 4: Pass the medical

The truck categories require a medical certificate (ärztliches Gutachten) to meet the standard for professional drivers, including an eyesight check. You must pass it to qualify and repeat it at each renewal, so it is worth arranging early.

Endorsements that boost your prospects

Extra qualifications open more doors and lead to better pay. The most valuable is the ADR certificate for carrying dangerous goods such as fuel and chemicals. Experience with specific vehicle types — tankers, tippers, refrigerated trailers or cranes — also makes you more employable. See the full range on our licence eligibility page.

Routes in, including funded training

You do not always have to pay for your own training. Austria has a recognised Berufskraftfahrer apprenticeship (a multi-year vocational training for professional drivers), and there are publicly supported schemes in which the employment service and employers fund the C and CE licences and the Code 95 training in return for a job commitment. Many operators also fund training directly for recruits, so it is always worth asking.

Pay and conditions

Pay and working conditions for drivers in Austria are governed by the applicable collective agreement (Kollektivvertrag) for the transport sector, which sets minimum rates according to your role and classification. International and specialist work generally pays more, and comparing live vacancies is the best way to see current rates for your situation.

Types of truck driver jobs in Austria

Truck driving covers a range of roles, so you can find work that fits your life:

• Local and regional — home every night, often distribution or multi-drop delivery.
• National — longer routes within Austria, sometimes with nights away.
• International — cross-border work across Europe, typically the best paid.
• Specialist — tankers, refrigerated, ADR and abnormal loads, which reward extra skills.

Coming to Austria as a non-EU driver

If you are a third-country national, the usual route is the Red-White-Red Card, a combined residence and work permit that ties you to a specific Austrian employer with a concrete job offer. One of its categories is for skilled workers in shortage occupations, for which Austria publishes an official list each year; whether and how truck driving qualifies depends on the current list, so check it before applying. Your pay must at least meet the requirements of the applicable collective agreement. Because rules and the shortage list change, always confirm the current position with the official Austrian sources.

How to find truck driver jobs

The most effective way to find work is a dedicated driver jobs platform, where you can match live roles to your licences and preferences. Browse current truck driver jobs and live vacancies in Austria, and set up a profile in the driver section so employers can find you.

What employers look for

Austrian operators value the right licences, Code 95, a valid driver card, a clean record, reliability, and good knowledge of the drivers’ hours rules, along with a professional attitude to safety and paperwork. Some German is helpful for many roles. If you are an operator rather than a driver, our employer section is where you can reach qualified candidates.

Tips to land a truck driver job in Austria

• Aim for CE if you want the widest choice of work and the best pay.
• Keep your Code 95 and medical current so you are always ready to start.
• Ask employers and the employment service about funded C and CE training.
• If you are a non-EU national, line up a job offer, since the permit route depends on it.
• Set up a driver profile so employers can find you.

Start your truck driving career in Austria.

Getting a truck driver job in Austria comes down to the right license (Code 9), a driver’s car, and knowing where to look — plus the correct permit if you are coming from outside the EU. With demand as strong as it is, qualified drivers have real choice. When you are ready, browse current truck driver jobs and vacancies, and register in the driver section on FastDriver.eu.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal, employment or immigration advice. Licence categories, qualifications, medical standards, employment conditions, pay and immigration rules — including the shortage-occupation list — vary and change over time, and eligibility depends on individual circumstances. Always confirm the current requirements with the official Austrian authorities before making decisions. Useful official sources include the oesterreich.gv.the aed-White-Red Card page, the migration.gv.at shortage occupations page, and the EUR-Lex summary of the Driver CPC (Code 95) rules. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for actions taken based on this information.