Continuous Training: Why Code 95 Retraining is Required Every 5 Years and How It Works

Code 95 Retraining (Szkolenie Okresowe) is a mandatory 35-hour course that every professional truck or bus driver in the EU must complete every 5 years to renew their license. The training is conducted without a state exam and aims to update knowledge: drivers learn to work with new smart Tachographs, changes in traffic rules, eco-driving rules, and first aid algorithms. To complete the course in Poland, it is necessary to undergo a Medical examination, Psychological tests, and open a PKZ profile. Without a valid Code 95, legal work in international transport is impossible.

Introduction: Why Retrain If You Have 10 Years of Experience?

Among experienced long-haul drivers, dissatisfaction is often heard: “I’ve been driving across Europe for ten years, what can these courses teach me?” It seems that periodic training is just a bureaucratic formality to extract money.

However, the reality of European logistics in 2026 proves otherwise. The rules of the game on EU roads are changing at an enormous pace. Over the past five years, the Mobility Package has been fundamentally updated, electronic e-CMR has replaced paper waybills, and G2V2 Tachographs (Smart Tacho 2) have appeared in cabs, recording border crossings via satellite. What was the norm in 2019 will today lead to a fine of several thousand euros from the BALM or ITD inspection.

Driver training is not a whim, but a way to protect your salary from fines and adapt to new technologies. In this article, we will discuss in detail how retraining is conducted, what new modules have appeared in the programs, and why investing in your skills always pays off.

What is Szkolenie Okresowe (Periodic Training)?

In Poland and throughout the European Union, a Category C+E driving license alone does not grant the right to work for hire. The main document for a professional is the Code 95 entry in field 12 of the driving license. Its validity period is strictly limited to 5 years.

How the renewal system works:

Several months before the Code 95 expires, the driver is obliged to complete a periodic course (Szkolenie Okresowe).
The course duration is strictly 35 hours (usually 5 days of 7 hours each).
Format: theoretical lectures and Practical training on simulators or a training ground.
Main advantage: Unlike initial qualification (a longer course), there is no state exam here. You just need to attend classes and absorb the material.

After completion, the driving school enters your data into the state system, and you receive an updated certificate to replace your plastic driving license.

Courses for Long-Haul Drivers 2024–2026: What's New in the Program?

Modern Code 95 retraining differs significantly from the boring lectures of a decade ago. Programs are constantly adapted to the latest requirements of transport inspections.

Here are the key modules currently receiving maximum attention:

Digital Tachographs and Working Hours (RTO)

Inspectors no longer forgive errors in manual data entry. The courses cover in detail:

How to correctly record loading/unloading and border crossings in new generation smart Tachographs.
Specifics of working with ferry/train rules.
Exceptions to the Mobility Package (e.g., when it is legally permissible to exceed driving time by 1 or 2 hours to return to base).

Economical and Safe Driving (Eco-driving)

Telematics in vehicles monitors your every brake. Classes teach:

How to properly use the inertia of a 40-ton vehicle.
How to work with the engine brake (retarder/intarder) to preserve brake pads.
Proper eco-driving increases your value to the company and often translates into bonuses (up to 500–1000 PLN to your salary).

Changes in cargo securing

The norms for the number of straps and their tension angles are updated. Drivers are shown how to calculate inertia forces according to EN 12195-1, how to use anti-slip mats, and what to do if the cargo is non-standard.

Pre-hospital care in road accidents

Rescue algorithms are updated every few years. You will refresh your knowledge on how to properly extract a victim from the cab, apply tourniquets, and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation until emergency services arrive.

Additional Training: How to Become an Elite Specialist

Basic retraining is the mandatory minimum. However, drivers who want to work in the premium segment of logistics (oversized cargo, valuable goods, air freight) undergo highly specialized courses.

What training increases your market value:

Safe Mountain Driving (Eco & Safe Mountain Driving): Specifics of descents in the Alps or Pyrenees. Working with braking systems to prevent overheating, fitting snow chains.
Counteracting Theft and Cargo Robbery: Training on parking rules, recognizing suspicious individuals at truck stops, and actions in case of attack (e.g., how to protect against sleeping gas being pumped into the cab).
Basic Language Courses: Knowledge of professional German or English (transport terms, numbers, phrases for communication at the ramp) makes you independent of the dispatcher. A driver with language skills always gets better routes.
ADR Courses: Permission to transport dangerous goods guarantees a salary increase.

Practical advice: If you have been working for a reputable Polish company for more than a year, inquire with management about the possibility of covering additional course fees. Many companies are willing to invest in their drivers, as this reduces their own risks.

Step-by-Step Algorithm: How to Renew Code 95 in Poland

The procedure requires some bureaucratic preparation. Do not postpone it until the last day of your visa or rotation.

Medical examination and Psychological tests. Old certificates are not valid. You are obliged to undergo a new examination (the cost in Poland is fixed – approximately 350 PLN for the complex).
Obtaining a PKZ number (Profil Kierowcy Zawodowego). With new certificates, a photo, and your old license, you go to the Communication Department (Wydział Komunikacji) at your place of residence. There, they will generate a digital PKZ profile for you free of charge.
Training. You provide your PKZ number to the driving school (e.g., our “Code 95 u Marka” center) and complete 35 hours of lectures.
License replacement. After the course, your PKZ profile is automatically updated. You return to the Municipal office (Urząd), pay the fee (100.50 PLN), and collect your new plastic driving license after 2-3 weeks.

Common Mistakes and Pitfalls

Missing deadlines. If your Code 95 expires on October 15th, and you return from a trip on the 16th, you are committing a serious offense. Moreover, your Driver’s Certificate (Świadectwo Kierowcy – “red paper”) becomes invalid. The inspection will issue a fine to both the company and you.
Purchasing a course “without attendance.” There are many fraudsters online offering to “get Code 95 in one day without attending classes.” In Poland, the control system is fully digitized. If forgery is discovered, your license will be revoked, and you face criminal charges for document forgery and deportation.
Incorrect format choice. The periodic course can be taken online (e-learning), but only at certified centers and while physically present in Poland.

Conclusion

Continuous training in logistics is your personal bulletproof vest on European roads. Code 95 retraining every 5 years allows you to stay within the legal framework, avoid foolish Tachograph fines, and feel confident in the cab of a modern truck.

Treat these 35 hours not as wasted time, but as an opportunity to ask complex questions to Practical training instructors and exchange experiences with colleagues.

At the driving school “Code 95 u Marka,” we make periodic training as useful as possible. No fluff – only current laws for 2026, fresh examples from road inspection practices, and real assistance with all paperwork. Visit our website to find out the schedule of upcoming Szkolenie Okresowe courses and book your spot!

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to take an exam after the 35-hour periodic course?

No, a WORD state exam is not required after completing the periodic course (Szkolenie Okresowe). Only your actual presence and participation are important.

Who should pay for Code 95 retraining – the company or the driver?

According to new EU rules, if you are already employed by a company, the employer is obliged to cover the costs of periodic training, and the course time itself should be counted as part of your working hours. If you are only looking for a job, you pay for the course.

Can I take the course in Poland if my license was issued in Ukraine or Belarus?

Yes, you can. Polish training centers train foreigners. After completing the course, you are obliged to exchange your national license for a Polish one (with Code 95 entered), as Poland no longer issues separate plastic qualification cards (Karta Kwalifikacji Kierowcy) to those who do not have European licenses.