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Professional Certificate of Competence (YKB) for Freight Transport

Learn the basics of getting a professional certificate of competence for freight transport.

Professional Certificate of Competence (YKB) for Freight Transport

The professional certificate of competence (YKB) is a requirement for anyone who wants to drive freight transport professionally with a heavy truck. The Professional Competence Act came into force in 2009 and applies throughout the EU and EEA. For drivers who already had their heavy licenses before the law was introduced, there was a transition period until 2016 to complete their training.

YKB freight transport applies to drivers with driving license C and CE and is valid for five years. After that, further training is required to renew the certificate.

What is YKB freight transport?

With YKB for freight transport, you are allowed to drive professional truck transport of goods within the EU and EEA. The certificate of professional competence ensures that drivers have the right knowledge of safe driving, legislation and rational transport.

  • To take the YKB, you must first take a YKB basic training.
  • If you want to drive a bus, YKB passenger transport is required.

How do I take the YKB for freight transport?

To get a Certificate of Professional Competence for Freight Transport, you must:

  1. Complete a basic training (140 or 280 hours depending on age).
  2. Pass a written test at the Swedish Transport Administration.

Knowledge test

  • Number of questions: 65 questions, of which 5 are test questions that are not included in the result.
  • Pass result: At least 48 correct out of 60 points.
  • Test time: 50 minutes.
  • Main areas:
  • Advanced rational driving and safety regulations.
  • Applicable laws and regulations.
  • Health, environment, road safety and logistics.

What is included in the training for freight transport?

The basic training covers the following subject areas:

  • Safe driving: Techniques for handling heavy vehicles in different traffic environments.
  • Load securing: How to secure goods in a safe and effective way.
  • Economical driving: Methods for reducing fuel consumption and wear on the vehicle.
  • Road safety: Risk assessment and accident prevention.
  • Regulations: National and international laws and regulations for freight transport.

Practical elements

  • At least 20 hours of driving training for the longer training (280 hours).
  • At least 10 hours of driving training for the shorter training (140 hours).

How does continuing education work for YKB freight transport?

The certificate of professional competence is valid for five years and must be renewed through continuing education of a total of 35 hours.

Continuing education structure

  • Sub-courses: Five sub-courses of at least 7 hours each.
  • Distance education: A maximum of 12 hours of continuing education may be completed remotely.

The continuing education can also be used to renew the YKB for passenger transport, if you have both qualifications.

Exemptions from YKB freight transport

Certain transports are exempt from the requirement for YKB. Here are some examples:

  • Transports in emergency situations, such as rescue services or ambulances.
  • Driving vehicles used for personal work, where driving is not the driver's main occupation.
  • Test drives or technical development work on vehicles.

A complete list of exemptions can be found on the Swedish Transport Agency's website.

Find a training course near you

Teoricentralen collaborates with trainers all over Sweden who offer both basic and advanced training for YKB freight transport.