Monday, 19 October 2026
The Czech Republic’s freight and passenger transport industries are facing increasing pressure to recruit qualified drivers, with new figures showing a substantial reduction in the number of non-EU nationals obtaining Czech driving authorisations. According to the Ministry of Transport, the number of foreign drivers receiving Czech licences for trucks and buses declined by 37% between 2021 and 2025, while transport operators estimate that the country needs approximately 25,000 additional professional drivers.
Around 1,700 drivers from countries outside the European Union obtained the relevant Czech driving entitlements in 2025, compared with approximately 2,800 in 2021. The figures cover both newly issued licences and the conversion of foreign driving documents into Czech equivalents. Most of the decline occurred among truck drivers, although the ministry has observed an increase in the proportion of licence holders who also possess the professional qualifications required for commercial transport.
The shortage is particularly significant for freight companies, which account for approximately 20,000 of the estimated unfilled driver requirements. The remaining 5,000 relate to passenger transport, according to industry association ČESMAD BOHEMIA. While these estimates do not represent an official register of vacancies, they illustrate the recruitment difficulties facing businesses responsible for moving goods and passengers throughout the country.
The age profile of the workforce presents an additional challenge. Truck drivers are approximately 47 years old on average, while the average age among bus drivers is around 50. Women remain considerably underrepresented, accounting for fewer than 3% of freight drivers and 7.5% of bus drivers. As experienced employees approach retirement, transport companies face the prospect of having to replace substantial numbers of workers while attracting relatively few new entrants to the profession.
Employment of professional drivers from outside the European Union requires compliance with Czech licensing and qualification rules. Depending on the country where their original driving documents were issued, applicants may be able to exchange their licences or may need to complete additional examinations. Commercial drivers must also satisfy professional competence requirements, which can involve training and testing beyond those needed to obtain an ordinary driving licence.
The Ministry of Transport is considering whether these procedures could be made more practical for experienced foreign drivers. One option under examination would allow applicants whose licences do not meet certain international documentation standards to demonstrate their driving abilities through examinations instead of repeating the entire Czech licensing process. The authorities have stressed that any changes would need to maintain existing road safety requirements, and no further legislative amendments have yet been approved.
The government has also supported expanding recruitment opportunities for workers from selected countries outside the European Union. However, officials acknowledge that attracting more foreign drivers will not resolve every difficulty facing the industry. Working conditions, the demands of commercial driving, career attractiveness and the availability of training opportunities all influence whether people enter or remain in the profession.
For the Czech Republic’s manufacturing and logistics sectors, the availability of professional drivers is an important operational concern. Road transport supports the movement of goods between factories, warehouses, distribution centres and customers across domestic and international markets. Persistent recruitment difficulties could place additional pressure on transport companies and influence how businesses organise their supply chains, although the latest figures do not establish a measurable impact on freight prices or delivery performance.
The issue also has implications for industrial property occupiers, particularly companies dependent on frequent deliveries and efficient distribution networks. Access to transport services may become an increasingly important consideration alongside motorway connections, labour availability and operating costs when businesses assess logistics locations. However, the decline in foreign driving authorisations does not provide direct evidence of reduced warehouse demand or changes in industrial development activity.
The ministry has cautioned that the available statistics do not explain why fewer non-EU drivers are obtaining Czech licences. Changes in recruitment patterns, employment opportunities and administrative requirements may all influence the figures, but their individual effects have not been established. The number of newly authorised drivers also differs from the total number of foreign professionals already working in Czech transport.
The latest findings highlight a longer-term challenge for the Czech economy. With road transport operators reporting a shortage of qualified workers and the existing workforce continuing to age, the industry faces growing pressure to improve recruitment and retention. Adjustments to foreign licensing procedures could form part of the response, but maintaining sufficient transport capacity will also depend on working conditions, professional training and the ability to attract a new generation of drivers.
