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Who has to complete further training
The German Professional Drivers Qualification Act (BKrFQG) requires further training from everyone who commercially uses vehicles of categories C and D, including subcategories. For lorries, the obligation has applied since September 2009, for buses since September 2008, in each case in five-year cycles. It affects not only haulage and coach companies but also craft, construction and landscaping businesses.
There are exceptions for individual journeys, for example the tradesperson rule for material and tools that the driver uses themselves, as long as driving is not their main activity. Whether an exception applies must be assessed case by case.
Scope of the training
The 35 hours are divided into five modules of seven hours each, taught in person. The content comes from three areas: efficient driving behaviour; application of regulations and health protection; and road and environmental safety, service and logistics.
Driver qualification card or Code 95
Until May 2021, further training was entered as Code 95 with a date in column 12 of the driving licence. Since 23 May 2021, there has instead been the driver qualification card, a separate card that the driver applies for from the driving licence authority. The completed modules are recorded in the professional driver qualification register at the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA).
An entered Code 95 remains valid until its date. After that, the driver receives the FQN following their next course of further training.
Deadlines and fines
For many drivers who obtained their licence before September 2009, the deadline ends on 10 September in each cycle, most recently in 2024 and next in 2029. For everyone else, the date on their own proof applies.
Anyone who drives without valid further training faces fines of up to €5,000. The company that orders or allows the journey risks up to €20,000.
What companies should do
- Record each driver’s proof, the driver qualification card or Code 95 with its date
- Remind them in good time; the modules can be spread over the five years
- Plan training; courses are scarce before the major cut-off dates
- After the training, check the new driver qualification card and adopt the date
FleetCred reads the proof from a photo and reminds you with your lead time; more under Driver qualification card and Code 95.
This article gives an overview and is not a substitute for legal advice. For your individual case, please ask your legal department, a specialist lawyer or your trade association.
