Poland is a leader in international transportation in Europe. According to statistics, there is a shortage of tens of thousands of drivers here, so companies are eager to hire new employees, especially those who are already in Poland with a work visa.
Many drivers fear that the employment process is complicated. In reality, if you have the basic documents, you can get hired in just a week. Let’s break down the entire journey from interview to first trip.
What is required to work as a driver in Poland
To hit the road as part of a Polish transport company, you need to have:
- 🚚 a driver’s license for category C or C+E;
- 🎓 Code 95 (Driver Qualification Card);
- 💳 driver’s chip card (tachograph card);
- 🩺 medical certificate and psychological test;
- 📜 legal residence status (visa, Residence card, UKR temporary protection status).
💡 Don’t have the full package of documents? No problem – you can get them right in Poland. At ‘U Marka’ driving school, this is done on a turnkey basis: Code 95, chip card, Medical examination, and even assistance with license replacement.
Employment stages: step by step
🔹 Step 1. Document collection
The driver provides the employer with:
- passport and visa;
- driver’s license;
- Code 95;
- tachograph card;
- medical certificate and psychological test;
- PESEL (if necessary).
👉 At this stage, it often becomes apparent that something is missing. Employers appreciate when a driver comes with a “full package” – it saves the company time.
🔹 Step 2. Interview
Here they check:
- work experience (presence of international trips, routes);
- knowledge of work and rest time regulations;
- driving skills (sometimes a short test drive or a trip with a mentor is conducted);
- level of Polish or English language (depends on the company).
💬 Tip: if there’s no language, the focus is on experience and documents. Many firms are willing to hire a driver without Polish if everything is “clean” in terms of paperwork.
🔹 Step 3. Signing the contract
Most often they offer:
- Umowa o pracę – a full-fledged employment contract that provides social guarantees;
- or umowa zlecenie – a more flexible option, often at the start.
The contract specifies:
- rate per hour, trip, or kilometer;
- number of hours and shift system (3/1, 4/1, etc.);
- per diems (diety);
accommodation and meal conditions (if provided).
🔹 Step 4. Introductory training
Before going on the road, the driver undergoes:
- safety instruction;
- rules for operating the vehicle and tachograph;
- training on documentation (CMR, protocols, reports);
- a short test trip around Poland with a mentor.
🔹 Step 5. First trips
After all procedures, the driver officially starts work. In the first weeks, the company often supports the newcomer: helps with fuel cards, explains the nuances of parking, filling out CMR and reports
How long does the entire process take?
- Document collection and verification – 1-3 days.
- Medical examination and psychological test – 1 day.
- Contract signing and instruction – 1-2 days.
- Production of the red paper takes 21 days.
- Going on a trip – possible as soon as 5-7 days after the interview. (within Poland)
👉 In practice, it happens that a driver with a full package of documents goes on their first trip 2-3 days after signing the contract.
They drive/train within Poland for 2-3 weeks while the red paper is being produced, upon its completion the driver can travel outside Poland and work throughout Europe.
What a driver should pay attention to
- Clarify what kind of contract the company is offering.
- Check if per diems are included in the payment.
- Ask if the company provides accommodation or transport to the base.
- Clarify the routes: intra-European, Scandinavian, England, or within Poland.
- Talk to drivers who are already working in this transport company.
- Read reviews on different platforms.
How does ‘U Marka’ driving school help you?
We know that for many drivers, it’s the first step that raises the most questions. That’s why we accompany you completely:
We help collect and prepare documents (Code 95, chip card, medical certificate, psychological test).
We provide access to a database of job vacancies in transport companies in Poland and the EU.
We select an employer according to your conditions: schedule, rate, type of trips.
We consult on the contract to ensure you don't fall for "grey schemes".
We keep you connected - in a closed chat for graduates, you can always ask questions and get support.
Employment of a driver in a Polish transport company with a visa is a quick and clear process. All you need is to collect documents, pass an interview, and sign a contract.
With StarTruck and ‘U Marka’ driving school, this path goes even faster: we’ll prepare the missing documents, select vacancies, and help you get on the road in just a few days.
