Truck Driver (Lkw Fahrer Nahverkehr) — DHL Group, Freiburg, Germany

If you hold a valid CE driving licence and you’re exploring truck driver jobs in Germany, this DHL position, this position with Deutsche Post DHL Group in Freiburg im Breisgau is worth a close look. It’s a full-time, permanent position with a guaranteed hourly wage under the collective bargaining agreement, shift patterns that get you home every day, and solid benefits — including covered professional driver training and free workwear. The job is on the official DHL Group careers site, and you apply directly through their portal.

Quick Job Overview

About the Employer

Deutsche Post DHL Group is the world’s largest mail and logistics company, operating in over 220 countries and territories. The Post & Parcel division handles mail and package delivery across Germany, employing tens of thousands of drivers, sorters, and delivery staff. Working for DHL Group means joining a company with a strong collective bargaining agreement (Tarifvertrag), which guarantees regular pay increases, structured working hours, and a range of employee benefits. It’s one of the more secure employers in the German logistics sector — and if you’re searching for truck driver jobs, Germany DHL roles like this offer genuine long-term stability — the kind of place where people build long careers rather than bounce between short-term contracts.

What This Role Involves

This is a short-haul (Nahverkehr) truck driving role based out of Freiburg im Breisgau. You’ll be operating within a three-shift rotation covering local and regional routes, which means you return home at the end of every shift — no overnight stays or long-haul runs. Your main responsibilities are straightforward: collecting and delivering freight on schedule, making sure the load is properly secured in the truck, and carrying out transport runs within the local area.

The shift schedule runs Monday to Friday within a 04:00–20:00 window, and Saturdays between 04:00 and 13:00. It’s variable shift work, but the key point is that it’s local — you know roughly when you’ll finish each day. That makes a real difference if you value a predictable home life alongside a driving career.

Required Skills and Qualifications

DHL Group is quite specific about what they need from applicants:

• Valid CE driving licence — this is the standard German/EU lorry-plus-trailer licence. Ideally, you should also hold the Key Number 95 (Schlüsselzahl 95), which is the EU professional driver qualification certificate.
• Professional driving experience — previous experience as a Berufskraftfahrer (professional driver) is an advantage but not strictly required.
• Trailer driving experience — you should be comfortable handling trailers, as the role involves combined lorry-and-trailer units.
• German conversation skills — the listing states you need to be able to hold a conversation in German (“Du kannst dich auf Deutsch unterhalten”). This is important for safety briefings, route instructions, and day-to-day communication with depot staff.
• Reliability and physical fitness — the work involves physical effort (loading, securing cargo), so you need to be comfortable with hands-on tasks.

Salary, Benefits, and Relocation Support

The pay package is governed by the collective bargaining agreement (Tarifvertrag) and includes several components:

• Base hourly rate from EUR 18.47 — this already includes 50% of the Christmas bonus (Weihnachtsgeld) and the regional market allowance. If you have relevant experience, DHL may start you at a higher step.
• 25% night-shift supplement — tax-free for hours worked between 20:00 and 06:00. This effectively pushes the hourly rate to around EUR 22.00 during night shifts (including the Christmas bonus component).
• Christmas bonus — an additional 50% payment in November, on top of what’s already factored into the hourly rate.
• Holiday pay (Urlaubsgeld) — up to EUR 332.
• Guaranteed annual pay increases under the collective agreement.
• Paid onboarding — you’re paid from day one while you learn the routes and procedures.
• Professional driver training (BKrFQG) — DHL covers the cost of your mandatory periodic training as a professional driver under German law.
• Free workwear — high-quality work clothing provided at no charge.
• Company pension scheme — employer-funded retirement contributions.
• Employee discounts — including reduced rates on holidays and travel.
• Overtime payout option — you can choose to have overtime paid out rather than banked as time off.

Relocation support is not mentioned in the listing. If you’re moving to Freiburg from another city or country, you’d need to arrange that independently.

Work Permit / Visa Note

This job listing does not mention visa sponsorship, work permit support, or relocation assistance. The listing is written in German and requires conversational German skills, which suggests it is primarily aimed at applicants who already have the right to work in Germany.

If you are a non-EU citizen, you would need a valid German work permit to take up this role. Germany does have a skilled worker immigration route for professional drivers under certain conditions — you can read about the general requirements on the official Make it in Germany portal. However, this is general information about Germany’s immigration framework — it is not a confirmation that DHL Group will sponsor or support a work permit for this specific role. You should contact DHL Group’s HR team directly if you need clarification before applying. For more verified jobs in Germany, browse our Germany category page.

Who This Role May Suit

Among truck driver jobs Germany DHL offers, this position is a strong fit if you already live in or near Freiburg, hold a CE licence (ideally with Key Number 95), and want a permanent driving job with a major, stable employer. It’s also a good option if you’re an EU citizen with the right qualifications looking to relocate within the EU to southern Germany — Freiburg is a pleasant university city close to both the Black Forest and the French border.

If you’re a non-EU driver who already holds a German residence permit and work authorisation, this could also work well. But if you’re applying from outside the EU and need visa sponsorship, this listing does not explicitly offer that — so you’d want to confirm directly with DHL before going through the application process.

How to Apply Officially

You apply directly through the DHL Group careers portal. The official listing page is here:

Apply on DHL Group Careers (Job ID: AV-110023)

Click the “Apply for this job” button on the DHL careers page. You’ll need to create an account or sign in to the DHL careers portal if you haven’t already. The application process is handled entirely by DHL Group — JobsRivo has no involvement in hiring decisions. Before applying, read our job verification process to understand how we confirm every listing, and check our scam red flags checklist so you can spot fake job offers elsewhere.

Required Documents

Based on the listing, you should have the following ready:

• CV / Lebenslauf (the listing specifically mentions “Bewerbung mit Lebenslauf”)
• Valid CE driving licence
• Key Number 95 certificate (Schlüsselzahl 95), if you hold one
• Proof of any relevant professional driving experience

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to speak German for this role?

Yes. The listing explicitly states you need to be able to hold a conversation in German. You’ll need to understand safety briefings, communicate with depot staff, and follow route instructions — all in German. If your German isn’t at a conversational level yet, this role would be difficult to do safely.

Is this a long-haul or local driving job?

It’s a Nahverkehr (short-haul / local) role. You’ll be doing regional runs and returning to the depot at the end of each shift. No overnight stays away from home.

What does “Schlüsselzahl 95” mean?

It’s the EU professional driver qualification (Berufskraftfahrerqualifikation). If you completed your CE licence in the EU after 2009, you likely already have it. If not, you’ll need to complete the initial qualification or periodic training. DHL covers the cost of ongoing BKrFQG training for their drivers.

Can I apply if I don’t have the Key Number 95?

The listing says “ideally” (idealerweise) with Key Number 95, which suggests it’s strongly preferred but may not be an absolute deal-breaker. However, under German law, you need it to drive professionally — so you’d need to obtain it before starting work.

What are the shift patterns?

Three-shift rotation (early, late, night) within the window of 04:00–20:00 Monday to Friday, and 04:00–13:00 on Saturdays. Shift times vary, but you’ll always finish locally — no overnight routes.

Disclaimer

JobsRivo is an independent job listing portal and is not the employer. Applicants should apply only through the official employer website. JobsRivo does not charge fees, process visas, or guarantee job offers.