Road haulage is the commercial or paid transport of goods with motor vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tons, including trailers.

On May 21, 2022, new regulations on the market and professional access regulations for vehicles over 2.5 tons gross vehicle weight in cross-border traffic will come into force. Accordingly, companies require a Community license for international commercial road haulage with vehicles of more than 2.5 tons and no more than 3.5 tons gross vehicle weight.

This means that in future the conditions for access to the profession, i.e. requirements for an establishment, proof of professional suitability, financial capacity and personal reliability for the aforementioned transports, must also be met.

Commercial road haulage is generally subject to licensing, whereas so-called own-account haulage, i.e. road haulage for a company's own purposes, is not subject to licensing under certain conditions.

If the vehicles are only used throughout Germany, you require a permit for commercial road haulage (in accordance with Section 3 of the Road Haulage Act). For cross-border journeys within the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA)* and Switzerland, you need a Community license (EU license) and, if applicable, a driver's certificate for nationals of a third country.

You can also use the Community license for transports within Germany and the EEA states ("cabotage transports").

For commercial road haulage with countries outside the European Economic Area, you require bilateral permits or so-called CEMT permits in addition to the national permit for the German part of the route (permit for commercial road haulage or Community license) for parts of the route in third countries.

If you are driving in or through Switzerland as part of commercial road haulage, you need a valid Community license.

The permit for commercial road haulage and the Community license can be issued for a limited period, subject to conditions or with conditions. The national permit can be issued for a period of validity of up to 10 years. The Community license is issued for 5 years.