Contents
What is different in parcel delivery
- High turnover: New drivers often start overnight. The check must be done before the first route, not only at the next interval.
- Many drivers, little office time: Instead of an appointment at the depot, the link arrives by SMS or WhatsApp. The driver photographs the driving licence whenever it suits them, for example before the route starts.
- Changing vehicles: Vans pass from driver to driver. Everyone who drives must have been checked.
- Driving licences from many countries: Driving licences from the EU remain valid in Germany. Driving licences from other countries are generally valid for only six months after the holder moves to Germany and must then be exchanged.
- Proof for the client: If your client wants to see that your drivers have been checked, you show the log or export the overview to Excel.
Which licence category for which vehicle
| Vehicle | Category | Additional requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Vans up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, such as the Sprinter | B | In cross-border road haulage and cabotage from 2.5 t: tachograph and driver card (since 1 July 2026) |
| Van with trailer | B, B96 or BE | Depending on the weight of the trailer and combination |
| Lorry over 3.5 up to 7.5 t | C1 | Driver qualification under BKrFQG (driver qualification card or Code 95), driver card, renew the category every five years |
| Lorry over 7.5 t | C | As for C1 |
FleetCred reads the categories and their expiry dates on the back of the driving licence. For drivers with lorry categories, driver qualification and the driver card are added as separate checks.
New drivers: check before the first route
- 1
Add drivers
One by one with name and mobile number, or as a list from Excel. Cost centres help you sort by depot or area.
- 2
Request a check
With one click. The link arrives by SMS, WhatsApp or email, and the driver photographs the front and back and briefly tilts the card to show the hologram.
- 3
Approve
You see the photo and the recognised data side by side and approve. The sealed log documents the check before the first journey.
If someone starts at the depot and does not have their phone with them, you check on site on a tablet, with the same verification. This is exactly the check before first handover that the draft law on § 2e StVG also provides for.
What FleetCred offers for this
- Check by link without installing an app and without an account, or on site on a tablet
- Interval of your choice or only when prompted, reminder before every expiry date
- Overview by cost centre, for example per depot
- Sealed log for each check as a PDF, export to Excel
- Several responsible persons with roles, for example depot manager with read access
Frequently asked questions
Do temporary staff and stand-ins also have to be checked?
Yes. What matters is who drives the vehicle, not how long someone has been employed. Check every driver before their first journey.
Do delivery drivers with vans up to 3.5 t need a driver card?
Not in purely domestic traffic within Germany. However, since 1 July 2026, the tachograph requirement applies to vehicles over 2.5 t in cross-border road haulage and cabotage. The driver then needs a driver card, which FleetCred also checks.
Do parcel drivers need Code 95?
Not with category B. The qualification requirement under the BKrFQG applies only from categories C1 and D1.
We operate as a subcontractor. Who is responsible?
The keeper of the vehicle, which as a rule is your company if the vans are registered to you or leased by you. Also check the contract with your client to see whether it requires separate proof.
This overview does not replace legal advice.
Sources
