Why Not Just Germany?
Germany is the largest market, but many drivers deliberately choose alternatives: congested rest areas, heavy bureaucracy, and intense competition. The Netherlands, Belgium and Austria each offer distinct advantages.
Netherlands
Salary: CE driver €2,500–3,200/month gross. Daily routes are common — many drivers go home each night. Routes: Rotterdam port makes the Netherlands a central logistics hub. Main corridors: Benelux, France, UK. Pros: Daily home return at many companies; sector-wide collective wage agreements (CAO) protect pay; reliable employers; advanced infrastructure. Cons: Very expensive housing market; Dutch expected long-term; high cost of living in major cities.Belgium
Salary: CE driver €2,600–3,300/month gross. Strong per diem system (€26.84/international day). Routes: Antwerp port, Benelux, France, UK, Scandinavia corridors. Pros: One of Europe's busiest ports guarantees constant work; trilingual country (FR/NL/DE) — English works well too; slightly lower tax burden than Netherlands. Cons: Complex labour law; combined tax and social contributions over 50%; Antwerp and Brussels traffic is intense.Austria
Salary: CE driver €2,400–3,000/month gross. ADR supplement €150–300/month common. Routes: East-West transit artery — Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic in one direction; Italy and Switzerland in the other. Pros: Close to Hungary (Vienna is 2.5 hours away); many companies offer weekly home trips; relatively affordable living outside Vienna. Cons: Lower base salary than NL/BE; basic German expected; seasonal variation on alpine and tourism routes.At a Glance
| | Netherlands | Belgium | Austria |
| Gross salary | €2,500–3,200 | €2,600–3,300 | €2,400–3,000 |
| Daily home return | Yes (many) | Partial | Yes (around Vienna) |
| Language | Dutch/English | Trilingual | German |
| Housing cost | Expensive | Mid | Affordable |
Browse openings: [Netherlands](/en/jobs/country/nl) · [Belgium](/en/jobs/country/be) · [Austria](/en/jobs/country/at)