Qualifications, certificates and languages
Well trained, safely on the road
Legislation precisely defines who may sit behind the wheel of a truck commercially. In addition to the driving license, these people need the basic qualification under the Professional Drivers Qualification Act (BKrFQG), the vocational training as a “professional driver”, or they fall under the grandfathering rule. The requirement profiles often only contain the note that professional drivers are being sought. Employers evidently do not consider it that important by which of these routes they obtained their driving authorization.
Quite often, employers additionally mention the driver qualification certificate (FQN) or the key number 95. Both certify that the holders have completed the basic qualification as well as the prescribed training. Despite pipelines, trucks remain the most important means of transport for chemicals and hazardous materials. Anyone transporting dangerous goods needs an ADR certificate. The certificate must be renewed every five years. In the earlier analyses, applicants were supposed to hold this certificate much more often. Employers are presumably happy to cover the costs of the training if applicants are otherwise suitable for the position.
Drivers use various aids when loading or unloading their trucks. For large or heavy cargo, motorized forklifts are used. For some of the positions, a forklift license is therefore an advantage when applying.
Foreign language skills are secondary
Employers also place much more value on applicants’ language skills than in the past; many offers address this (44.3 %). However, their main concern continues to be that drivers have a very good command of the German language (36.0 %) or that German skills are required in general. By comparison: in 2019, very good German skills were less important to companies (23.1 %). It may play a role that people with a migration background are overrepresented in many professions with a lack of personnel. One thing remains unchanged: foreign language skills play virtually no role in the driving profession.
