Code 14 and Code 95 are two different worlds. What you actually need before applying.
South African drivers know Code 14 (EC) — the heavy articulated licence category. In Europe you will hear another code: Code 95. They sound similar, mean different things — and understanding the difference saves confusion in interviews and paperwork.
No — and this is the key point. Code 95 is earned through training, and for non-EU drivers hired by European carriers, the employer typically arranges the qualification process as part of onboarding. Established Lithuanian carriers know exactly how to take an experienced non-EU driver through the required steps.
What you bring from South Africa is what cannot be trained quickly: real driving experience, a clean record and complete documents. EU qualifications come later, with your employer's support — and with us you pay nothing for that.
EU trucking differs from SA: the strict digital tachograph (4.5 hours driving → 45-minute break, no exceptions), right-hand traffic, winter conditions. Drivers who adapt fastest treat the rules as protection — in the EU, rest time is genuinely enforced and paid.
Code 95 is a mark on a driver's licence confirming that the driver has completed professional training and may carry goods or passengers commercially under EU rules. The initial training is 140 hours and the code is valid for 5 years. After that the qualification is renewed with 35 hours of periodic training — no exam.
Code 95 is mandatory for drivers of categories C1, C, CE, D1, D and DE who carry goods or passengers commercially and work as professional drivers in the EU.
The driver is personally responsible for the life and health of every road user. Training covers recognising hazards early — the behaviour of others, road conditions and the technical state of the vehicle. A separate part deals with distance, speed and braking distance: the higher the speed, the greater the distance needed, and speed is chosen for the conditions, not for the legal limit. In rain, snow, fog or ice: increase distance, reduce speed, avoid sudden manoeuvres.
Sharp acceleration and braking raise fuel consumption significantly. You learn to hold a steady speed on the motorway, shift up early without labouring the engine, avoid idling for more than a minute, and use engine braking and momentum. Tyre pressure is a fuel question too — low pressure increases rolling resistance.
The load must be fixed so it cannot move under sudden braking, in turns or under acceleration; the weight is spread across the platform with the centre of gravity as low and as central as possible. Limits: combination (truck and trailer) 18 m, width 2.55 m, height 4.0 m. Axle loads under EU directives: single axle 11.5 t, tandem 18 t, triple 24 t, and total weight with cargo no more than 40 t. Exceeding axle loads means fines, damaged road surface and a damaged chassis.
The tachograph records driving time, breaks, rest, speed and distance. You must know how to use it, insert your personal card before moving off, and produce printouts when required. Liability is not removed if the violation was committed at the employer's request, and the data is checked on the road, at the company and at border control.
The core numbers of Regulation 561/2006: daily driving up to 9 hours (up to 10 hours no more than twice a week); no more than 56 hours per week and 90 hours in two consecutive weeks. After 4 hours 30 minutes of continuous driving — a break of at least 45 minutes (splittable as 15 + 30 minutes, in that order). Daily rest at least 11 consecutive hours, reducible to 9 hours a maximum of three times between two weekly rests. Weekly rest 45 hours, reduced to 24 hours no more than every second week and compensated by the end of the third week. With a two-driver crew, both must get at least 9 uninterrupted hours within 30 hours.
Daily checks and spotting faults: rough running and unusual noises, pulling to one side, rising coolant temperature, fuel or oil leaks, longer braking distance or squealing, uneven suspension, warning lamps on the dash. If you notice a fault — stop if safety is at risk and tell the dispatcher or mechanic. Driving is prohibited with faulty brakes or steering, lights that do not work at night, worn tyres, a damaged body or fluid leaks.
Our drivers get all of this — the summary and the 100-page “Driver Book” (road rules and tachograph in English) — in the travel checklist, so they can read it before the flight.
No. The licence is the right to drive a category; Code 95 is the professional qualification on top. Both are handled in Europe, not South Africa.
Your SA experience and licence are the basis of your application, plus an International Driving Permit for the transition period. EU-side documentation is part of the employer's onboarding.
No. We charge no placement fee at any stage — you pay only for your own documents and flight, directly to institutions.
Join the free WhatsApp group for webinar dates and document guidance, or start your free application when your documents are ready.
