The commercial provision of transport services with vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of over 3.5 tons requires a permit. A distinction must be made between a permit for commercial road haulage (only valid in Germany) and a Community license (valid within the European Union). The main granting factors are

• professional suitability

Specialist examination before the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or training as a transport specialist or forwarding agent (training started before 04.12.2011)

• Financial capacity

Equity capital of EUR 9,000 for the first vehicle, EUR 5,000 for each additional vehicle)

• Personal reliability

Certificates of good conduct and information from the central trade register must be applied for at the citizens' offices and sent directly to the licensing authority. If entrepreneurs are already self-employed, clearance certificates from the tax office, the employees' health insurance funds and the employers' liability insurance association must also be submitted. The documents for personal reliability must not be older than 3 months at the time of application).

Applications must be submitted to the local licensing authority (company headquarters).