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NL Worker Compass
Beroepsgoederenvervoer · 2026–2026

Subsistence allowance for transport 2026: this is how you check it

Check coffee money and accommodation costs based on trip duration, departure and return. Keep net expense allowance separate from gross salary.

Sources checked: 2 minutes of readingSources for this explanation

This is an automatic translation of the Dutch explanation. If in doubt, check the Dutch text and the original collective labor agreement. Read this explanation in Dutch

The short answer

The subsistence allowance is intended for costs along the way and is different from wages for hours worked. The collective labor agreement distinguishes between one-day and multi-day journeys. Departure and arrival times and the duration outside the base determine which rules you should use.

Start with your ride data

FNV explains that the scheme assumes absence from the place of employment and, among other things, has a limit of longer than four hours. For multi-day rides, the first, intermediate and last days can be treated differently. Therefore, write down exact times and not just 'one day's work'. Check the 2026 table, even if a search result still shows an older download file.

Do not count the compensation as a fixed net salary

Expense reimbursement can increase your payout without being the same as a guaranteed wage. The amount may change during holidays or a different journey schedule. For a job comparison, it is therefore wise to view basic salary, structural allowances and expected expense allowances separately. The general net calculator does not automatically calculate this journey-dependent compensation.

This is how you check it

  1. Note departure, return and all days outside the base for each trip.
  2. Choose the official table for the correct year and type of ride.
  3. Ask the employer for the calculation if only one total amount is shown on the pay slip.
Practical example

Two drivers work the same number of paid hours. One runs daily from the same location, the other travels for several days. Their subsistence allowance may differ, even if their basic salary and scale are identical.

Questions about this CAO

Is coffee money another word for wages?

No. In this context it concerns reimbursement of accommodation costs. Keep this item separate from the job salary and overtime compensation.

Can I only use the total number of working hours?

That is insufficient for a reliable check. Duration of absence, times and type of journey are important.

Does the same table apply for a multi-day trip?

The collective labor agreement distinguishes parts of a multi-day journey. Do not simply apply the one-day calculation to all days.

Where can I find the current table?

On the FNV page for accommodation costs and in the original collective labor agreement. Check that the document contains the amounts for 2026.

Sources for this explanation

Sources checked:

Original documents · PDF