- Domestic drivers earn about 2,500 RON net monthly, plus per diems and benefits
- International routes pay 3,800–7,000 RON monthly, rising with experience and ADR qualifications
- Per diem, bonuses, insurance, and accommodations boost total earnings
- Long hours, family separation, fatigue, and road risks, especially with hazardous loads
Truck driving is often perceived as one of the best-paid professions in Romania, but few understand what the job really entails. Beyond the attractive salaries, road transport drivers face major challenges: thousands of kilometers on the road, long hours behind the wheel, separation from family, and significant risks on European roads. In this article, we analyze the real earnings of truck drivers in Romania and abroad, and explore whether this profession truly deserves the effort.
From local routes to international assignments, the financial upside is real, but it comes with important trade-offs: extended family separation, tough working conditions, constant traffic stress, chronic fatigue, and, for dangerous goods transport, health and safety risks. We examine the numbers and the conditions to help you decide if a career as a truck driver is right for you.
Advantages and disadvantages of the long-haul truck driver profession
The profession of a long-haul professional driver has always been an attractive option from a financial standpoint. Even in the communist era, truck drivers benefited not only from above-average salaries and generous per diem but also from access to goods and items unavailable in Romania. They were seen as privileged, able to travel abroad and earn hard currency.
Today the context has changed, but the financial advantages remain significant. However, these earnings come with major sacrifices: prolonged separation from family, difficult working conditions, constant stress on the road, chronic fatigue, and, in the case of transporting hazardous substances, significant health and safety risks.
Truck driver salaries in Romania
Domestic routes
For drivers who perform exclusively domestic routes within Romania, the base salary starts at around 2,500 RON net per month. This salary level may seem modest, but it is accompanied by per diem and, depending on the employer, various additional benefits that reduce personal expenses.
International routes
Drivers who perform international transport benefit from substantially better salary packages. According to data from recruitment platforms such as Ejobs, salaries for this category vary between:
- 3,800 RON/month - entry level for drivers with limited experience
- 5,000-6,000 RON/month - mid level for drivers with a few years of experience
- 7,000+ RON/month - for drivers with extensive experience, ADR certifications (hazardous goods transport) and complex routes
Additional benefits and bonuses
Beyond the base salary, most transport companies offer:
- Daily per diem covering meals and basic needs
- Performance bonuses for meeting deadlines and safe driving
- Private medical insurance with competitive packages
- Accommodation and meals provided for certain long trips
- Vacation or holiday bonuses
- Weekend work compensation
These benefits can significantly increase the total income, making the full remuneration package more attractive than the base salary alone.
Truck driver salaries in the European Union
Germany – leader in remuneration
Germany offers the most attractive salaries for professional drivers in the EU. An experienced truck driver can earn approximately 2,500 euros net per month (about 12,000 RON) after paying all state taxes. This pay level explains why Germany is the preferred destination for many Romanian drivers.
The Benelux countries
In Western European countries, salaries remain very competitive:
- Net 2,300 euros/month in the Netherlands
- Net 2,100 euros/month in Belgium
- Net 2,000 euros/month in Austria
Southern Europe
Even in Southern European countries, where the cost of living is lower, salaries are attractive:
- Italy: between 2,000 and 2,300 euros net/month
- Spain: between 2,000 and 2,300 euros net/month
Shortage of professional drivers in Romania
These substantial salary differences have driven a massive migration of skilled labor from Romania to Western European countries. Although Romania trains roughly 2,000 professional drivers each year, the shortage of truck drivers with a valid CPC certificate is estimated at a minimum of 40,000 people. This acute staff deficit puts pressure on Romanian transport companies and drives a gradual rise in wages offered locally.
Working conditions and schedule
Legal working hours
According to European and Romanian regulations for road transport, a professional driver’s schedule is strictly regulated:
- Maximum 9–10 hours of actual driving per day (can be extended to 10 hours twice a week)
- Mandatory 45-minute break after 4.5 hours of continuous driving
- Daily rest of at least 11 hours (can be reduced to 9 hours three times a week)
- Weekly rest of at least 45 hours
These regulations are monitored by digital tachographs, and non-compliance can lead to substantial fines for both driver and company.
On-the-ground reality
In practice, a truck driver’s working day often exceeds the legal driving hours. Drivers must allocate time for:
- Loading and unloading
- Border checks and customs controls
- Technical vehicle checks
- Documentation and reporting
- Waiting times at loading/unloading points
Thus, a workday can easily reach 12–14 hours, even though actual driving is legally limited.
Challenges and risks of the profession
Family separation
The biggest sacrifice for international drivers is time spent away from home. Many drivers spend weeks on the road, missing important moments in family life and with children. This prolonged separation can put significant strain on personal relationships.
Difficult working conditions
Drivers face:
- Unfavorable weather: fog, snow, heavy rain
- Heavy traffic on crowded European highways
- Inadequate facilities at many parking areas and service stations
- Irregular and often unhealthy meals
- Poor quality sleep in the truck cab
Health and safety risks
The profession carries significant risks:
- Road accidents: truck drivers are exposed to a higher risk of serious accidents
- Health problems: prolonged sitting leads to back, circulation, and cardiovascular issues
- Transport of hazardous goods: ADR-certified drivers haul chemicals, flammable or toxic substances
- Chronic fatigue: irregular schedules affect sleep quality and mental health
- Theft and crime: in certain areas, drivers are targets for thieves
Requirements and qualifications
License and professional certificate
To become a truck driver, you need:
- Category CE license – for vehicle combinations over 3.5 tonnes
- Professional certificate (CPC)
- Minimum age: 21 for international transport
- Criminal record: no relevant offenses
Additional certifications
For higher salaries and better opportunities:
- ADR certificate – for transporting hazardous goods
- Digital tachograph – training in use
- Foreign languages – especially German and English for international routes
Conclusion: is it worth it?
The profession of a truck driver certainly offers financial opportunities above the Romanian average, especially for those willing to work abroad. Salaries of 2,500–12,000 RON per month are attractive and can provide a decent standard of living for a family.
However, these earnings do not come easily. They result from sustained hard work, personal sacrifices, and risk-taking. Not everyone can handle the physical and psychological demands of this line of work. Family separation, constant stress, tough working conditions, and on-road hazards make this “above-average salary” fully merited only by those who choose this career path.
For those who value the freedom of the road, are unafraid of challenges, and can manage separation from family, the truck driver profession remains a viable and profitable option. For others, the sacrifices may outweigh the financial benefits, regardless of the salary level.
