EU transport regulations and professional driving updates

New European Union regulations are set to change driving license requirements and transport operations. The European Parliament has approved new guidelines allowing Class B license holders to operate vehicles weighing up to 4.25 tons following specific training or examinations. EU member states have three years to integrate these rules into national law, with an additional year for practical implementation.

In the professional logistics sector, new rules will require drivers of 2.8-ton vehicles to record driving times in cross-border traffic starting July 1, 2026. Additionally, remote driving of trucks on public roads was permitted as of December 1, 2025. However, a regulatory contradiction exists: while a Class CE license is sufficient for remote driving, federal requirements for technical supervision of autonomous trucks demand an engineering or technician qualification.

Despite technological shifts, the industry faces a significant labor shortage. Economic associations estimate the gap in the German road freight transport sector will exceed 70,000 drivers by January 2026.