Licensing in road haulage
Commercial road haulage in Germany requires a licence under the Road Haulage Act (GüKG). Domestic transports require the national road haulage licence. Cross-border EU transports require the EU Community licence (Regulation EC 1072/2009). Both licences presume financial standing, professional competence and good repute.
Cabotage rules
Cabotage means the carriage of goods between two points within one country by a foreign transport company. Cabotage is restricted in the EU: a maximum of 3 cabotage operations within 7 days after a cross-border delivery. The rules have been enforced more strictly since 2022 in order to avoid distortions of competition.
Own-account transport as an exception
Own-account transport is the carriage of goods by a company using its own vehicles for its own goods – not for a third party. It requires no licence, but must be clearly distinguishable from commercial road haulage. As soon as goods are carried for third parties, the licensing requirement applies.
