Truck, bus & professional driver
Your career behind the wheel
Articulated lorry, city bus or the professional driver qualification: at NEED4DRIVE in Essen-Steele you get the licence that gets you the job – and up to 100 % of it can be funded.
- C1
- C1E
- C
- CE
From the 7.5-tonne rigid to the artic with a semi-trailer. We take you through theory, driving and the test – even if you have only driven a car for years.
- D1
- D1E
- D
- DE
Minibus, coach or scheduled service: with passengers on board, routine is everything. That is exactly what we practise with you until you feel safe.
- Initial qualification
- Periodic training
- Code 95
Without code 95 you are not allowed to drive commercially. Initial qualification and periodic training both come from us, from a single source.
AZAV-certified training providerUp to 100 % fundable
As an AZAV-certified training provider we bill your training directly to the funding body – for example against an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein).
- Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit)
- Jobcenter
- German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung)
- Statutory Accident Insurance (Berufsgenossenschaft)
- Armed Forces Career Service (Berufsförderungsdienst)
- Your employer (training for employees)
Which route fits you?
The education voucher is issued by the Federal Employment Agency – since 2025 also for people looked after by a Jobcenter, which stays your first point of contact. We issue the quote you take to your appointment there.
Funding in detailYour company wants to upskill you? Under the funding of training for employees (§ 82 SGB III) the Federal Employment Agency can cover part of the cost.
Funding for companiesAfter illness or an accident, German Pension Insurance and the Statutory Accident Insurance fund vocational rehabilitation – including the route behind the wheel.
Rehabilitation & retrainingIt also works without a funding body. Tell us briefly what you have in mind – we plan your training together and at your pace.
Ask via WhatsAppA job with a future
Goods and people have to be moved every single day – in any weather and in any economy. Whoever can do that is needed.
Haulage firms, transport operators, construction companies and waste management are constantly looking for people with a truck or bus licence and a valid code 95.
Transport and local public transport are essential services. These are rarely seasonal gigs – usually permanent posts with a collective agreement and benefits.
The Ruhr area is logistics and transport country: haulage firms, works traffic and transport operators sit right on your doorstep. You do not have to move for the job.
You do not need a completed vocational training. A licence, the medical check-ups and the professional driver qualification are enough to start.
How your training runs
- Consultation
Together we work out which class you really need, which requirements you already meet and who can pay for the training.
- Medical checks
Every truck and bus class needs an eye examination and a medical examination. The bus classes additionally need an assessment of your mental performance. We tell you exactly what to get done and where.
- Theory
Basic and class-specific material in the classroom – in German, English or Arabic, so the language never becomes the obstacle.
- Driving
Behind the wheel of our training vehicles: manoeuvring, country roads, motorway and night driving, until every move is second nature.
- Tests
The theory and driving tests are taken by TÜV or DEKRA. The professional driver qualification is examined by the IHK (chamber of commerce).
Frequently asked questions about truck, bus & professional driving
Which licence class do I need?
For trucks over 3.5 t it is C1 or C, with a trailer C1E or CE. For buses it is D1 or D, with a trailer D1E or DE. We work out what matches the job you want during the consultation.
Can I start without a class B licence?
No. The car licence (class B) is a prerequisite for every truck and bus class. If you do not have it yet, you take it with us first and then move straight up.
Is the training funded – and by whom?
Up to 100 % is possible: through the Federal Employment Agency (education voucher – since 2025 also for people looked after by a Jobcenter), German Pension Insurance, the Statutory Accident Insurance, the Armed Forces Career Service or your employer. We are AZAV-certified and bill the funding body directly.
Do I need the professional driver qualification?
As soon as you carry goods or passengers commercially, yes: on top of the licence you then need the professional driver qualification (code 95) – proven by the driver qualification card (Fahrerqualifizierungsnachweis) that the competent authority issues. For private use – your own motorhome, for instance – the licence alone is enough.
How long does the training take?
That depends on the programme: on your previous experience, on your class and on whether you train full time or alongside your job. We advise you and plan a schedule that fits your everyday life.
Which medical checks are required?
For every truck and bus class (C, C1, CE, C1E, D, D1, DE, D1E) you need two records: an eye examination – the certificate is issued by a doctor or an optician, or alternatively as an ophthalmologist’s report – and a medical examination for signs of conditions that can rule out fitness to drive. The bus classes D, D1, DE and D1E additionally need an assessment of your performance (resilience, orientation, concentration, attention, reaction time): for every applicant when the licence is first issued, regardless of age, and from age 50 at a later renewal. We tell you where to get this done.
Free consultation
Message us on WhatsApp or give us a call – we answer your questions and prepare the quote your funding body needs.
“Hello, I am interested in truck, bus or professional driver training at NEED4DRIVE.”
Message us on WhatsAppAs a rule there is no legal entitlement to funding – whether and to what extent it is granted is decided by the funding body after a consultation.