Under the EU Mobility Package rules that took full effect in 2022, you’re entitled to the host country’s minimum wage whenever you perform cabotage or cross-trade transport — not just the wage from your employer’s home country. This means a driver based in Poland working loads in France must receive French minimum wage rates for those operations. Here’s what each major European country pays in 2026 and how the rules actually work on the ground.
How the Posted Worker Rules Affect Your Pay
The Mobility Package changed everything for international drivers. Before 2022, companies could pay Eastern European rates regardless of where you actually drove. Now, Directive (EU) 2020/1057 requires host country wages for:
- All cabotage operations (domestic loads in a country where your truck isn’t registered)
- Cross-trade transport (loads between two countries, neither being your employer’s base)
- Any operation beyond the initial bilateral journey from your home country
Transit and bilateral transport (direct loads from your employer’s country to another and back) are exempt. So if you’re driving a load from Warsaw to Madrid with no stops, Polish rates apply. But if you pick up a return load in Barcelona going to Lyon, French wages kick in for that leg.
Your employer must register you through the IMI (Internal Market Information) system before you perform posted work. You should receive a posting declaration for each country. If your company hasn’t given you this paperwork, that’s a red flag — and you have legal rights to demand it.
Western Europe: The High-Wage Countries
These are the countries where minimum wage really matters — and where enforcement is strictest.
| Country | Gross Hourly Minimum (2026) | Monthly (Full-Time) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | €12.82 | ~€2,220 | Increased January 2026 |
| France | €11.88 | ~€1,802 (SMIC) | Annual review each January |
| Netherlands | €14.06 | ~€2,193 | Highest in mainland EU |
| Belgium | €13.44 | ~€2,070 | Sector agreements may add more |
| Luxembourg | €14.86 | ~€2,572 | Highest national minimum |
| Austria | No statutory minimum | ~€1,850 (sector) | Collective agreements apply |
Germany’s MiLoG (Mindestlohngesetz) is strictly enforced on drivers. German customs (Zollamt) conduct roadside checks and can demand payslips on the spot. Fines for employers violating wage rules run up to €500,000. As the driver, you won’t be fined — but you need records showing your hours worked in Germany, which ties directly into your tachograph data.
France requires companies to appoint a representative in France and submit posting declarations through the SIPSI portal. French inspectors check both the declaration and your actual pay records. The daily allowance (per diem) cannot count toward the minimum wage — only actual wages do.
Southern Europe: Mid-Range but Growing
| Country | Gross Hourly Minimum (2026) | Monthly (Full-Time) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | €8.87 | ~€1,184 (14 payments) | Paid in 14 installments |
| Portugal | €5.47 | €957 (14 payments) | Sharp increase from €820 in 2023 |
| Italy | No statutory minimum | ~€1,400 (sector) | CCNL Autotrasporto applies |
| Greece | €5.44 | €950 | Increased April 2025 |
| Slovenia | €7.57 | ~€1,310 | Higher than some Western countries |
Spain’s system confuses many drivers because wages are split into 14 payments rather than 12. This doesn’t reduce your total — you simply get two extra “pagas extraordinarias” in July and December. When calculating hourly minimums for cabotage, use the annual total divided by actual hours.
Italy lacks a statutory minimum wage but the national transport collective agreement (CCNL Autotrasporto e Logistica) sets binding rates. Level 3 Super (standard truck driver) earns approximately €10.50/hour when you include all contractual elements. Italian inspections focus on contracts matching the collective agreement.
Eastern Europe: Lower Minimums but Changing Fast
| Country | Gross Hourly Minimum (2026) | Monthly (Full-Time) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | PLN 30.50 (~€7.10) | PLN 4,666 (~€1,085) | Increased January 2026 |
| Czech Republic | CZK 130.25 (~€5.35) | CZK 20,800 (~€854) | Two increases planned 2026 |
| Romania | RON 22.50 (~€4.50) | RON 4,050 (~€810) | Construction/transport may differ |
| Hungary | HUF 1,780 (~€4.60) | HUF 290,800 (~€753) | Skilled worker rate higher |
| Bulgaria | BGN 5.58 (~€2.85) | BGN 1,077 (~€550) | Lowest in EU |
Poland’s minimum wage has nearly doubled since 2020, rising from PLN 2,600 to PLN 4,666. This matters because Polish companies dominate European road transport. If you work for a Polish carrier, your base rate has improved substantially — though many companies structure pay as low base plus high per diems to avoid social contributions.
These Eastern European rates only apply when you’re doing bilateral transport or transit. The moment you pick up a cabotage load in Germany while employed by a Romanian company, German rates apply for that work.
Nordic Countries: Collective Agreements Rule
| Country | Hourly Rate (Typical) | Monthly (Full-Time) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | ~SEK 175 (~€15.20) | ~SEK 28,500 (~€2,475) | No statutory minimum |
| Denmark | ~DKK 145 (~€19.45) | ~DKK 24,000 (~€3,220) | Highest effective rates |
| Finland | ~€13.50 | ~€2,300 | AKT agreement applies |
| Norway | NOK 230.50 (~€19.80) | ~NOK 40,000 (~€3,440) | Extended to all transport |
The Nordic countries don’t have statutory minimum wages — instead, collective agreements between unions and employers set binding rates. Norway in 2024 extended its transport sector agreement to cover all drivers operating in the country, including foreign carriers. This effectively created a minimum wage specifically for truck drivers at NOK 230.50/hour.
If you’re doing cabotage or cross-trade in Scandinavia, these rates apply to you. Enforcement has increased since 2023, with Swedish and Norwegian authorities cooperating on roadside inspections. They cross-reference your cabotage documentation with wage records.
What Actually Lands in Your Account
Minimum wage figures mean nothing if deductions eat everything. Here’s what typically comes off your gross pay:
- Social contributions: Range from 11% (Romania) to 35% (France) of gross
- Income tax: Varies wildly — 0% on first €11,604 in Germany, flat 10% in Bulgaria
- Company deductions: Some employers illegally deduct for truck damage, fuel overuse, or equipment
A German minimum wage of €2,220 gross typically becomes €1,650-1,750 net depending on your tax class. A Polish minimum of PLN 4,666 gross becomes roughly PLN 3,400 net.
Per diem allowances sit separately from minimum wage. You’re entitled to both: the minimum wage for hours worked plus per diem for days spent away from home. If your employer combines these into one figure and claims it meets minimum wage requirements, they’re violating the law. Check out our guide on per diem claims to understand what you should actually receive.
Keep every payslip, tachograph record, and CMR document. If you ever need to
