Chapter 1: What Does the Transport Collective Agreement Regulate?
In the road transport sector, the Collective Agreement is the legal document that defines the rules of the game between the company and the worker. Unlike other more centralized sectors, transport in Spain is primarily governed by provincial agreements, which creates a significant disparity in conditions between a driver in Madrid, one in Murcia, or one in Barcelona.
This document regulates everything from the base salary to supplements for night shifts, hazard pay, or the controversial "distance bonus." But what is most important in 2026 is how the agreement interprets the times recorded in the .DDD file. The agreement determines which part of the day is effective work and which part is considered presence or availability—something vital for calculating overtime pay.
Chapter 2: Salaries and Salary Tables in 2026
Salary tables are the heart of the agreement. In 2026, most agreements have had to adjust to the Minimum Interprofessional Wage and the skyrocketing inflation of operating costs. A driver in the "Mechanic Driver" or "Heavy Vehicle Driver" category must receive a salary commensurate with their responsibility.
2.1. Concepts That Make Up Your Payslip According to the Agreement
- Base Salary: The fixed monthly amount according to your professional category.
- Seniority Bonus: Bi-annual or five-year periods accumulated within the company.
- Night Shift Bonus: Work performed between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
- Job Position Supplements: Such as the bonus for transporting dangerous goods (ADR) or refrigerated transport.
To avoid errors in liquidation, it is essential to cross-reference agreement data with driving and rest times. If the tachograph marks "Other Works" activity outside the ordinary workday, these must be paid as overtime according to the limits set by each province.
Chapter 3: Per Diems and Travel Expenses: National and International
The per diem (allowance) regime is probably the most consulted section. Per diems are not salary-based; they are compensation to cover the maintenance and stay expenses of the driver away from their residence.
In 2026, international per diems have undergone an upward revision due to the EU Mobility Package. When a driver performs international transport, their salary must align with that of the country where they perform the service if local wages are higher (posting of workers). This forces companies to maintain exhaustive management of activity files to justify payments before potential labor inspections.
Provincial Agreement vs. Company Agreement
Although many large companies have their own agreement, it can never be below the minimum conditions of the provincial agreement or the Workers' Statute. Compliance with the driver labor regulations is the first step to avoiding collective conflicts and sector strikes.
Chapter 4: Hours of Presence: The Great Debate
Unlike an office worker, a driver spends many hours in the vehicle without actually driving (waiting at docks, customs, etc.). These are the so-called hours of presence.
The agreement usually limits hours of presence to a maximum of 20 hours per week as a monthly average. They do not count as effective work toward the 40-hour weekly limit, but they are paid. If your company does not correctly record these hours through manual entries on the tachograph, you will be losing money and the company exposes itself to a serious sanction in a labor inspection.
Chapter 5: Holidays, Public Holidays, and Special Rests
The collective agreement also specifies how the 30 calendar days of vacation should be taken and what happens when a driver has to work on a public holiday. In the transport sector, compensatory rest for working on holidays or Sundays usually carries higher remuneration or is compensated with equivalent rest time.
It is fundamental that these periods are reflected in the vehicle's registry. A common mistake is not correctly marking vacation periods on the card, which can be interpreted as a lack of record in fleet management.