Filenews 12 April 2025
The Cypriot market is facing a serious shortage of professional drivers, with needs exceeding 2,000 drivers, according to estimates by competent bodies. The problem directly affects transport and the smooth operation of basic services, which leads the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works to take targeted measures.
The Department of Road Transport (TOM), in the context of the effort to cover the shortcomings, is proceeding with a significant modernization of the process of obtaining a professional driver's license. The changes focus on facilitating prospective drivers and improving the quality of exams, with the aim of attracting more professionals to the field.
Among the new measures is the possibility of taking the exams in three languages - Greek, English and Turkish - for trucks and buses, thus widening access to foreign-language candidates. For taxi licenses, the exams will be conducted in Greek and Turkish. In addition, the exam syllabus has already been translated into English, a move that is characterized as of key importance for the enhancement of the participation of non-Greek speakers.
At the same time, in cooperation with the Productivity Center (KEPA), the exams for professional driving licenses will be held four times a year. For 2025, the dates have already been set for the end of May, the first half of September and November, while from 2026 the exams will start in February.
The creation of a special evaluation committee aims to ensure the quality and accuracy of the training material, regardless of language. The Ministry underlines that credibility and equality in examinations are key axes of the new approach.
Although there are currently more than 7,000 people with a professional bus license and more than 12,000 with a truck and bus license, it is not clear how many of them are practicing the profession. The gap of 2,000 drivers remains and the need for new inputs into the labour market is imperative. With these changes, the TOM aspires to enhance the availability of professional drivers in Cyprus and to shape a more accessible, fair and efficient system for obtaining a professional license.
