Autonomous Trucks and Automation: Will Driverless Trucks Replace Drivers in the EU?
Autonomous trucks in the EU will not replace professional drivers in the foreseeable future. Autonomous trucks from 2025–2027 are vehicles with advanced assistance systems (adaptive cruise control, lane keeping) that facilitate monotonous driving on highways. A human remains critically necessary for controlling maneuvers on narrow streets, processing customs documents, and overseeing cargo loading and securing. Transport automation does not eliminate the profession but transforms it: the driver becomes a highly paid operator of a modern transport complex, and the demand for such personnel in Europe is only growing.
Newcomers' Fears and the Reality of Logistics
Today, news headlines are filled with bold statements: “Artificial intelligence will leave long-haul drivers jobless,” “First cab-less truck launched.” Because of this, many candidates planning to obtain Code 95 and start working in Europe are hesitant: is it worth investing time and money in a profession that might disappear?
As a practitioner working in European international transport, I will state directly: the panic is absolutely unfounded.
European logistics is currently experiencing a colossal shortage of personnel—the market lacks hundreds of thousands of drivers. Transport automation is indeed progressing, but it is aimed not at dismissing people, but at increasing safety and reducing the driver’s workload. In this article, we will honestly examine the current stage of technology, why a robot cannot tighten a strap on a pallet, and how you can adapt to new realities to become an indispensable specialist.
What are Autonomous Trucks in 2026?
To understand the essence of what is happening, you need to know that autonomy is divided into 6 levels (from 0 to 5).
- Levels 0–1: Full manual control (older trucks).
- Level 2: Partial automation (the system brakes automatically before an obstacle, steers within the lane). These are the vehicles currently widely used on EU roads.
- Level 3: Conditional automation. The vehicle can drive itself on the highway, but the driver must be ready to take over control at any second.
- Levels 4 and 5: Full autopilot without human intervention. They are not yet available for commercial operation on public roads in the EU.
Autonomous trucks from 2025 and 2026 by Volvo, Scania, or Mercedes-Benz are, in essence, very smart assistants. They are equipped with cameras, radars, and lidars, but they still require the presence of a professional behind the wheel.
Transport Automation: What to Really Expect on the Roads
The industry is developing according to two main scenarios, neither of which excludes human involvement.
- Platooning or convoy driving
This technology allows several trucks to drive one after another with minimal distance (about 10–15 meters).
- How it works: The first truck is driven by an experienced driver. The other vehicles are programmatically “linked” to the leader, replicating its acceleration and braking.
- Why it’s needed: This saves up to 10% on fuel by reducing aerodynamic drag.
- Where the human is involved: Drivers are present in all trailing vehicles. They monitor the process, check instruments, and take over control at highway exits.
- The Hub-to-Hub Concept
This is the maximum that autonomous trucks in the EU are capable of in the next decade.
- An autonomous truck drives exclusively on straight, wide, and perfectly marked highways between two large logistics centers (hubs) located outside the city.
- Why this does not replace people? Someone must bring the trailer from a city warehouse to this hub. And then someone must pick up the trailer from another hub and deliver it to a factory or supermarket. This “first and last mile” will always be performed by a human driver.
Why the Driving Profession is More Relevant Than Ever (A Practical Perspective)
Let’s move away from flashy startup presentations and look at the harsh reality of European operations. There are things a computer will not learn to do for a very long time.
- Loading and Securing Cargo
A computer cannot use tie-down straps, place corner protectors, or lay anti-slip mats. If the cargo shifts during transit, it is the driver who will feel it through the trailer’s behavior, stop, and re-tighten the straps. The responsibility for cargo safety lies with a human.
- Infrastructure of Old Europe
Autopilot works perfectly on straight highways in Texas. Now imagine a typical industrial zone in Italy or a narrow street in a French village, where tree branches scratch the tarpaulin, and roundabouts (rondos) were built for horse-drawn carriages.
- No sensor can handle parking a 16-meter vehicle combination “left-handed” at a Biedronka or Aldi supermarket ramp when cars and forklifts are bustling around.
- Document Management and Communication
The driver is a company representative.
- Transfer of documents (CMR, T1 customs declarations).
- Communication with warehouse staff, border guards, or road police inspectors.
- Problem-solving when the unloading address has changed or there is no free ramp at the warehouse. An autopilot in such a situation would simply stop and block traffic.
- Weather Conditions
Lidars and cameras become blind in heavy snowfall, fog, or icing. In bad weather, smart systems switch off, displaying the message: “Take over control.”
Pitfalls: How Automation Changes Driver Requirements
Do not think that progress will not affect you. The work becomes less physically demanding but more knowledge-intensive.
- Myth: You will be able to sleep while driving a smart truck.
- Reality: A modern tractor unit costs between 400,000 and 800,000 Polish Zloty. The employer entrusts you with an asset worth as much as a good apartment in Warsaw, plus cargo worth millions of euros. Your task is not just to be a driver, but an operator of this complex system.
A common mistake among newcomers: neglecting to study onboard computers. If you cannot read error messages on the display, or do not understand how to properly activate the engine brake in conjunction with adaptive cruise control, you will consume more fuel, and the company will start losing money.
How to Prepare for the Future as a Driver?
To be among the most sought-after specialists with a high salary in 5–10 years, you need to act strategically today.
- Master eco-driving. Transport automation is closely linked to ecology. A driver who can skillfully use the vehicle’s inertia and electronic assistants saves fuel. European companies pay excellent bonuses for this (often an additional 500 to 1500 Polish Zloty per month).
- Obtain additional qualifications. The basic Code 95 is just the beginning. Take a course on dangerous goods transport (ADR) or train in operating tankers. Robots will not be entrusted with transporting explosive chemicals for a very long time.
- Learn to work with digital documents. Electronic CMRs, digital logbooks on tablets, parking reservation apps—these are already standard.
At our driving school, “Code 95 at Marka,” we do not just “drill” for tests. Our instructors practically demonstrate how modern Tachographs and driver assistance systems work. We teach students to operate a 2026 truck, not vehicles from the last century.
Conclusion
Autonomous trucks and the development of automation are not a threat to your career, but a tool that makes the long-haul driver’s job more comfortable and safer. The cabin transforms into a modern office, and the driver becomes a respected specialist-operator. The demand for people who can manage such technology will continue to grow, guaranteeing you stable employment and a European salary for decades to come.
If you are ready to master a prestigious profession that keeps pace with the times, contact the StarTruck (“Code 95 at Marka”) training center. We will prepare you for the real conditions of modern European roads, process the necessary documents, and help you get a confident start in logistics.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
When will driverless trucks completely replace long-haul drivers in Poland and Germany?
- According to transport industry experts, a complete abandonment of human drivers in international logistics is not possible in the next 20–30 years. Development is constrained not only by technology but also by laws, insurance policies, and the unpreparedness of road infrastructure.
Is it difficult to learn to drive a modern smart truck?
- No, it’s no more difficult than learning a new smartphone. The main thing is to undergo quality initial training (Code 95). Assistance systems are designed to be intuitive, to make your life easier, not harder.
Is it true that drivers’ salaries will fall due to autopilots?
- On the contrary. Operating a complex, high-tech vehicle combination requires high qualifications. Companies are willing to pay more to drivers who can safely operate expensive modern equipment and work with digital systems.
