The professional driver’s leave in 2026 amounts to 20 days if the length of service is under 10 years, or 26 days if the service period exceeds that. The length of service includes, among others, civil law contracts, self-employment, and work abroad, provided these periods are properly documented according to the Labor Code regulations.
Key takeaways
Are you looking for information about professional drivers’ leave in 2026? You’re in the right place! In this article, you will learn:
- How many days of leave a professional driver is entitled to in 2026;
- How to calculate the leave pay for drivers;
- The types and rules for settling different kinds of leave;
- What a "urlopówka" (leave certificate) is, its purpose, and when it is required.
Table of contents
Leave entitlement for professional drivers – how many days are granted in 2026?
A professional driver in 2026 is entitled to 20 days of paid leave if their length of service is less than 10 years, or 26 days if the length of service is at least 10 years. The length of service also includes, among others, civil law contracts, self-employment, and work abroad, provided these periods are documented.
Impact of education on length of service for leave entitlement
The length of service for leave entitlement also includes periods of education as follows:
- Basic vocational school – 3 years
- General secondary school – 4 years
- Vocational secondary school – 5 years
- Post-secondary school – 6 years
- Higher education (university) – 8 years
Periods of education are not cumulative. This means a graduate of higher education needs only 2 years of work to reach the full leave entitlement of 26 days. If education occurred during employment, the more favorable option for the employee is counted toward the length of service, directly affecting leave entitlement.
Leave in the first year of employment – how to calculate partial leave for drivers?
A driver starting their first job acquires the right to leave gradually – after each month worked. According to leave calculation rules, they are entitled to 1/12 of the annual leave entitlement. In practice, this means about 1.67 days per month for a 20-day leave entitlement or 2.17 days for a 26-day entitlement.
After 5 months of work, this corresponds to approximately 8.33 or 10.83 days of leave, which is rounded up to full days according to labor law.
Leave for drivers employed part-time
For drivers working part-time, the leave entitlement is proportional to the working time. For example, for half-time employment and an annual leave entitlement of 20 days, the formula is: 20 × 1/2 × 5/12. The final leave duration depends on the employment fraction, not on how working hours are scheduled.
How to calculate leave pay for drivers?
Leave pay should correspond to the earnings from normal work as a professional driver. The base includes fixed pay components (e.g., basic salary, seniority or functional allowances) and variable elements such as bonuses or overtime pay, usually from the last 3 months before the leave.
Fixed components included in leave pay
Leave pay should reflect the amount the employee would receive performing their driver duties. Included are fixed monthly pay components due in the month of leave use, such as basic salary, functional allowance, seniority allowance, shift allowance, and allowances for special working conditions.
Night work and overtime allowances
In transport companies, flat-rate overtime and night work allowances are usually fixed monthly supplements and thus included in leave pay. However, on-call pay, which results from driver work organization, should not be settled solely as a flat rate. Often, an advance is paid for on-call duty, with any adjustment treated as a variable component related to working time settlement.
Regulatory bonuses and seniority allowances
Regulatory bonuses may increase leave pay if they arise from clearly defined company rules. This does not apply to discretionary bonuses, which are rewards. Seniority allowance, as a fixed pay component, is fully included in leave pay because it directly relates to leave entitlement and length of employment.
Variable pay components – the 3 or 12 months rule
Variable pay components for leave are calculated based on payments from the 3 months preceding the start of leave. This includes hourly wages, commissions, allowances for driver working hours, night work, and overtime settlements. If these amounts fluctuate significantly, a 12-month period before the leave month may be used.
Components excluded from the leave pay base
Excluded from leave pay are:
- One-time and non-periodic payments for specific tasks;
- Jubilee awards;
- Pay for previous leave and other justified absences;
- Compensation for unused leave;
- Retirement and disability severance pay.
In practice, reimbursements such as per diems, laundry allowance, or sanitary allowances, as well as quarterly settlements for longer periods, are also excluded.
Types of leave, rules, and settlements
Professional drivers are entitled to various forms of leave: leave on demand (4 days per year within paid leave), unpaid leave, and the right to use outstanding leave in the following year. After employment ends, compensation is paid for unused leave, calculated like leave pay.
Leave on demand – rules and limits
Each full-time professional driver is entitled to 4 days of leave on demand per calendar year. These days are part of paid leave and settled like standard leave pay. The employee must submit a request no later than the day the leave starts, but the employer may refuse if granting it would disrupt driver work organization or transport operations. The 4-day limit applies regardless of working time fraction.
Unpaid leave vs. paid leave entitlement
Unpaid leave is used when the driver has exhausted their paid leave for the year. During unpaid leave, the employee remains employed but does not receive leave pay, and the employer does not pay social security contributions. The request must be in writing and recorded in leave and driver time records.
Outstanding leave – deadlines for use
Unused paid leave should be granted in the following year according to leave planning and time recording rules. Failure to grant outstanding leave may result in fines from the National Labor Inspectorate (PIP) National Labor Inspectorate (PIP) ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 PLN. PIP may also order payment of leave pay or compensation. Repeat violations can lead to fines up to 30,000 PLN.
Ekwiwalent za niewykorzystany urlop kierowcy
Compensation is due only after employment ends if leave remains unused. The amount is calculated according to leave pay rules, based on average earnings the employee would have received performing driver duties. The only valid proof of leave granted is a leave request signed by the employee, which is part of driver leave documentation.
"Urlopówka" – driver leave documentation
"Urlopówka" is a document confirming periods when the professional driver did not drive. It is used to maintain continuity of driver working time records when activity is not registered by the tachograph, e.g., during paid leave, sick leave, weekly rest, or downtime. This document is required during roadside inspections if the period without driving is not recorded in the tachograph.
What is a driver’s "urlopówka"?
It confirms periods when the driver did not operate the vehicle, ensuring continuity of working time records when tachograph data is missing.
When is a "urlopówka" required?
It is required during paid leave, driver sick leave, weekly rest, or downtime if it was impossible to record the break in driving on the tachograph.
According to working time recording regulations, the driver must have activity history for the current day and the previous 56 days.
What information must the "urlopówka" contain?
It must include full transport company data (name, address, phone, email), the issuer’s name and position, driver’s personal data (name, surname, date of birth, ID number, employment start date), exact period covered (with hour, day, month, year), and reason for issuance (leave, rest, sick leave, driving outside regulations, or other work). It requires signatures from the driver and issuer.
"Urlopówka" for new drivers – requirements from employment start
For newly hired drivers, the "urlopówka" should cover the period from the employment start date (usually from 00:00) until the first tachograph record. Drivers changing employers must also have data from their driver card or charts confirming working time from the previous 56 days.
Consequences of missing "urlopówka" and document retention
Lack of "urlopówka" during roadside inspections constitutes a violation of driver working time control and documentation regulations. This results in a 500 PLN fine for the transport company and the person responsible for leave and time records. Documents confirming non-driving periods must be kept for at least one year.
Drivers' leave regulations - Summary
Professional drivers in 2026 are entitled to 20 or 26 days of leave depending on length of service. Leave pay includes fixed and variable pay components. After employment ends, compensation is due for unused leave. The "urlopówka" plays an important role in driver working time documentation, confirming non-driving periods.
If you run a transport company and need support with driver working time settlements or transport accounting, the Evotax team is ready to help!
Frequently Asked Questions about professional driver leave
Below, we've collected the most frequently asked questions about professional driver leave. We've also provided answers. If your question isn't listed, please contact us and our specialists will be happy to answer it!
How many days of leave does a professional driver get in 2026?
Leave depends on length of service. Drivers with less than 10 years get 20 days; those with more get 26 days. From 2026, civil contracts, self-employment, and work abroad count toward service if documented.
How to calculate partial leave for a driver in the first year?
Which pay components count toward driver leave pay?
What is a "urlopówka" and when is it required?
How many days of leave on demand does a professional driver have?
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