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- 43 percent of foreign drivers do not know if they receive the Norwegian minimum wage.
- 38 percent state that they do not receive minimum wage, only 19 percent say that they do.
- Some earn as little as 9,000 kroner per month.
- The salary level varies between countries, most people earn 1,500–3,000 euros a month.
The summary is created using artificial intelligence (AI)
A large proportion of foreign truck drivers still do not know whether they receive the Norwegian minimum wage when driving in Norway. In YTF's recent border surveys, 43 percent of drivers responded that they do not know whether they receive the Norwegian minimum wage.
Furthermore, 38 percent of drivers say they do not receive minimum wage. Only 19 percent say they do.
– The survey shows a working life where conditions vary greatly. Drivers who drive in and out of Norway have very different knowledge about what rights they have. Many do not know what salary they should actually receive when they drive in Norway, says union leader Trude Sande.
Monthly incomes show differences both between countries and between individuals. Most report incomes of between 1,500 and 3,000 euros per month. The development from 2021 to 2023 showed an increase in the share earning over 2,000 euros, and the 2025 figures continue this pattern.
Among drivers from Sweden and Latvia, a larger proportion are in the higher salary brackets, while drivers from Romania and Ukraine are more likely to be in the salary range of 1,500 – 2,000 euros.
The proportion of drivers who do not receive the minimum wage has been higher in previous surveys. But even though the development is positive in some areas, this year's figures give a clear signal that we still have a way to go before everyone who drives in Norway can be confident that they are getting what they are entitled to, says Sande.
– It worries us that so many people do not know whether they receive the Norwegian minimum wage when driving domestically. It says something about the flow of information, but also about how employers practice the regulations. We need a system that is easier to understand and easier to follow.
Trude Sande
As in previous surveys, traffic is dominated by drivers from Poland and Ukraine, followed by Latvia, Belarus, Romania and Sweden. Vehicles and trailers are also largely registered in these countries.
Among the drivers who responded to the survey, the majority (74 percent) stated that they work 20–24 days per month. This is in line with the result from 2023.
Around 10 percent of drivers report working between 25 and 29 days a month, and 7 percent report working 30 days or more. This shows that there are many drivers who work in excess of a normal monthly working day.
The total working day for most people is between 10 and 12 hours, with a driving time of around 8 hours, but there is also a significant proportion who report that they drive 10 hours or more.
– When foreign drivers are pressured on wages and conditions, the entire industry is pressured. Therefore, this is not a matter of us and them. It is about ensuring a working life that is sustainable for everyone who works in transport, says Sande.
Facts about YTF's border surveys
Yrkestrafikkforbundet has conducted border surveys at Svinesund since 2014 to map working and wage conditions among drivers who transport goods to Norway.
The second survey was conducted in 2017, and the survey has since been conducted every other year.
The study forms the basis for the generalization requirement that was first adopted in 2015.
