Poland is the engine room of European road freight, with one of the largest haulage sectors in the European Union and a structural shortage of professional drivers. For transport companies, logistics operators, and any business that runs its own fleet, hiring and retaining qualified truck drivers, including from abroad, is one of the defining challenges of 2026. This guide explains, from an employer’s perspective, exactly how to do it legally and efficiently.

It covers who you can hire, the licences and professional qualifications your drivers must hold, the all-important driver attestation for non-EU drivers, the work-authorisation routes you must arrange by nationality, the step-by-step hiring process, contracts and the dieta pay system, tax and social security, tachograph and working-time compliance, and the mistakes that most often catch employers out. It is practical and honest about how the process really works.

Why Polish Employers Hire Foreign Truck Drivers in 2026

Poland handles an enormous share of the goods crossing Europe, and demand continues to grow across international freight, e-commerce, and industrial exports. In contrast, the pool of domestic drivers has not kept pace. The result is a persistent driver shortage that pushes transport companies to recruit from abroad, particularly from Ukraine and other non-EU countries, alongside EU drivers. Employers who understand the legal framework can fill seats faster and avoid costly compliance failures.

Can You Hire Truck Drivers in Poland in 2026?

Yes, and the route depends on the driver’s nationality:

• EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens can be hired without a work permit; they register their stay, and their EU/EEA licence and Code 95 are recognised.
• Non-EU (third-country) drivers need a work authorisation route plus a visa or residence permit, and, for international transport, a driver attestation that you, the employer, must obtain.

In every case, you make the job offer first, then arrange the paperwork to match the driver’s nationality and the routes they will run.

Licences and Professional Qualifications Your Drivers Must Hold

Before hiring, confirm each driver holds the right credentials:

• Category C for rigid trucks over 3.5 tonnes and category C+E (CE) for articulated vehicles and trailers, the combination that most international work requires.
• Code 95, the EU Driver Certificate of Professional Competence, is valid for five years and renewed through periodic training. EU/EEA drivers carry it on their licence; non-EU drivers without an EU licence obtain the Polish Driver Qualification Card (Karta Kwalifikacji Kierowcy), which carries Code 95.
• A valid tachograph driver card and current medical and psychological certificates.

For non-EU drivers, you can support the process of obtaining the Driver Qualification Card, which requires an application, medical and psychological certificates, a passport, and a valid driving licence with the required categories.

The Driver Attestation (Świadectwo Kierowcy): Your Responsibility as Employer

This is the document employers most often overlook, and it is essential. If you employ a non-EU driver on international routes, you must obtain a Driver Attestation  (świadectwo Kierowcy), sometimes called the “red paper.” It proves the driver is lawfully employed and authorised to perform international carriage within the EU. Without it, the driver cannot legally run international EU routes, and your operation is exposed to penalties. You apply for it once the driver is legally employed and qualified, and it is one of the final steps before cross-border work begins.

Work-Authorisation Routes You Must Arrange for Non-EU Drivers

As the employer, you drive the authorisation process, and the route depends on nationality:

• Ukrainian citizens can generally work based on temporary protection (UKR) status combined with a simple employer notification (powiadomienie), the fastest route.
• Citizens of Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, and Moldova can often be employed via the simplified declaration on entrusting work (oświadczenie), which you register.
• Other nationalities typically require a Type A work permit (zezwolenie na pracę typ A), which you apply for.

On that basis, the driver obtains a national category D work visa. In some cases, you must first complete a labour-market test (informacja starosty) at the local labour office (powiatowy urząd pracy) to confirm no suitable Polish or EU candidate is available. However,h this is not required for every role. Since recent reforms, these procedures run through the digital praca.gov.pl system.

Step-by-Step: How to Hire a Truck Driver in Poland

1. Define the role, routes (domestic or international), and pay, and confirm it meets legal minimums.
2. Check the driver’s licence categories (C, C+E), Code 95 status, and experience.
3. Make a written job offer setting out routes, pay, hours, and start date.
4. For non-EU drivers, complete the labour-market test if required, then arrange the work authorisation (UKR notification, declaration, or Type A permit) via praca.gov.pl.
5. Support the driver’s Category D visa and entry.
6. Ensure the driver completes the medical and psychological examinations and holds or obtains Code 95 or the Driver Qualification Card.
7. Obtain the Driver Attestation (Świadectwo Kierowcy) for non-EU drivers on international routes, and ensure a tachograph driver card is in place.
8. Sign a compliant written contract and register the driver with ZUS before the start date.
9. Onboard the driver and keep all right-to-work and qualification records.

Recruitment: Where to Find Truck Drivers

• Driver-focused recruitment agencies, including those sourcing Ukrainian and other non-EU drivers.
• EURES and EU job portals for EU/EEA drivers.
• Specialist transport job boards for CE and international roles.
• Referrals from existing drivers are often the most reliable channel in a tight market.

Be transparent about routes, pay, and the documents you will arrange; reputable drivers value employers who handle legalisation properly.

The Employment Contract, Wages, and the Dieta System

The contract must meet Polish labour law. From 1 January 2026, the national minimum wage is PLN 4,806 gross per month (around PLN 31.40 per hour), setting the legal floor. However, professional drivers earn well above it, typically between PLN 6,000 and PLN 12,000 gross per month, depending on routes and experience.

The defining feature of driver pay is the dieta (daily subsistence allowance) system for routes away from base. International diets, paid at destination-country rates, are partly or fully exempt from social security and income tax, which raises ddrivers’take-home pay and is a key tool for attracting and retaining international drivers. Structure pay lawfully, distinguishing base salary from allowances, and document everything.

Tax and Social Security Obligations

Register each driver with the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) before the start date, process payroll with personal income tax (PIT) and employee and employer social contributions, and confirm current rates. The taxable and contributory treatment of dietas differs from base salary, so payroll must handle them correctly to remain compliant.

Tachograph, Working Time, and EU Mobility Package Compliance

Professional driving is tightly regulated. Employers must ensure compliance with EU driving-hours and tachograph rules, working-time limits, and, for international operations, the EU Mobility Package requirements on posting, driver returns, and cabotage. Build systems to monitor tachograph data, rest periods, and records, since enforcement is active and penalties for breaches can be significant.

Compliance, Records, and Penalties

Keep on file eachdriver’ss right-to-work documents, work authorisation, visa, Code 95 or Driver Qualification Card, Driver Attestation, medical and psychological certificates, contract, and pay records. Employing a driver without the correct authorisation or attestation, or breaching driving-hours and posting rules, can lead to significant fines and operational restrictions. Verify status before the start date and track all renewals.

Common Mistakes Employers Make

• Letting a non-EU driver start before the work authorisation and visa are in place.
• Forgetting the Driver Attestation (Świadectwo Kierowcy) for non-EU international drivers.
• Overlooking the labour-market test where it is required.
• Missing ZUS registration before the start date.
• Mishandling the diet tax treatment in payroll.
• Failing to monitor tachograph, working-time, and Mobility Package compliance.

Useful Official Links

• Polish government services portal: https://www.gov.pl
• Work and permit applications (employer-led): https://www.praca.gov.pl
• Office for Foreigners (Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców): https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc
• Social Insurance Institution (ZUS): https://www.zus.pl

Quick Summary: Hiring Truck Drivers in Poland in 2026

1. Confirm the driver’s nationality, licence categories (C/C+E), and Code 95 status.
2. Draft a written job offer that complies with legal pay requirements.
3. For non-EU drivers, complete any labour market test and arrange work authorisation and a category D visa.
4. Ensure the medical, psychological, Code 95, Driver Qualification Card, and tachograph card are in place.
5. Obtain the Driver Attestation (Świadectwo Kierowcy) for non-EU international drivers.
6. Sign a compliant contract, register with ZUS, and handle dieta pay correctly.
7. Monitor compliance with tachograph, working time, and Mobility Package requirements, and keep all records.