No More Waiting Behind the Wheel: What the Removal of the One-Year Experience Requirement for CE Drivers Really ChangesWhy the government simplified the rules, who it affects, and what remains unanswered
Ukraine has officially removed the one-year driving experience requirement for obtaining a CE driver’s license which allows operation of freight transport with a trailer. The relevant resolution was prepared by the Ministry of Economy and adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers at a regular meeting. The document amends paragraph 9 of the Regulation on the Procedure for Issuing Driver’s Licenses and Admitting Citizens to Operate Vehicles. At first glance, it may seem like a technical change. But in practice, it opens the profession to a much wider group of applicants who previously had to wait a full year after obtaining a basic category C license. That one-year waiting period is no longer mandatory.
Until now, obtaining a CE license which allows driving a truck with a trailer was only possible after one year of experience with a basic category C license. The government has eliminated this requirement. As explained by the Ministry of Economy, “this will allow for the prompt recruitment of new drivers for operating freight transport with trailers, without spending additional time waiting to formally complete the period of operating a basic vehicle category.” At the same time, all other requirements professional training, education, and exams remain unchanged. Only the mandatory waiting period has been removed, not the overall procedure.
What’s behind the change: necessity or policy?
This decision appears logical in the context of a general shortage of qualified freight drivers. While the government has not published official data on the scale of this shortage, the industry has repeatedly pointed to the need for tens of thousands of CE drivers both in the civilian sector and for state logistics during wartime. The ministry emphasizes that simplifying procedures will expand access to the profession for young people under 25 and for women, strengthen the state’s logistical capacity, and support the development of the trucking industry in line with European standards. This is not the first government move in the area of workforce logistics: parallel reforms include the automation of draft notice delivery and simplified customs rules for certain categories of citizens. Together, these actions reflect a broader strategy the state’s attempt to optimize its human and transport resources in wartime conditions.
Who benefits most from this decision
Removing the one-year experience rule opens the door to those who:
- have recently obtained a category C license but want to drive trucks with trailers;
- are studying in vocational schools or training centers, where programs can now be adapted without requiring a one-year break between training and employment;
- are looking for jobs in logistics without being delayed by formal barriers.
The ministry has also emphasized that this change will increase access for women to “traditionally male” professions, such as truck drivers, bus operators, and technical specialists. Currently, over 700 Ukrainian women are studying in technical programs, including transportation.
What remains unclear
Despite the generally positive reception, there are points that remain officially unspecified:
- The minimum age for obtaining a CE license without one year of experience is not directly stated in the new resolution. Some media outlets report the possibility of applying from age 19, but this has not been confirmed in official documents.
- The government has not published official statistics on the shortage of CE drivers. While the reform is framed as addressing a labor gap, no concrete figures are provided in the resolution or press releases.
- The full text of the resolution, including the amendment to paragraph 9, has not yet appeared in open legal databases, although several industry outlets confirm that it was adopted.
These details are important not only for transparency, but also for consistent application of the rules especially by the service centers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which issue licenses.
What this means for the industry and the country
The Cabinet’s decision is an effort to eliminate an unnecessary administrative barrier that doesn’t affect training quality but creates a time gap between education and full employment. At a time when logistics plays a critical role, the state is looking for ways to more quickly integrate workers into the sector. It is also a signal for updates to vocational education programs, which can now be planned without mandatory gaps related to driving experience. If implemented systematically, this reform could have long-term effects.
Eliminating the one-year experience requirement for obtaining a CE license is more than a technical fix it’s a strategic move in response to labor pressure in the transport sector. It does not lower professional standards, but it does allow people to start working sooner. And while not all points have been clearly defined yet, the direction of the reform shows an effort to adapt the system to real-world challenges economic, human, and security-related. What matters now is ensuring that these changes are not just declarative, but implemented effectively and inclusively especially for those still standing outside the profession: young people, women, and new entrants to the workforce.
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