Editorial update: 2 October 2026. The original article date is retained; the regulatory and service information below has been updated for this translation.
Cabotage inspections in the EU are becoming more frequent and more rigorous. Carriers need to prepare: a complete set of documents and knowledge of the rules are essential to avoid substantial penalties.
What happens during a cabotage inspection?
Keep evidence of the preceding international carriage and every cabotage operation, a certified copy of the Community licence where required, and the driver’s and vehicle’s documents. For operations within scope, also provide the posting declaration and tachograph records. The actual obligations depend on the vehicle, employment relationship and operation, not just the country’s minimum-wage system.
After all goods from the incoming international carriage have been unloaded, the same motor vehicle may perform up to 3 cabotage operations within 7 days. In another Member State entered empty, the limit is one operation within 3 days of entry, also within that overall 7-day window and the total of three operations. Cabotage can start on the international unloading day; the 7-day deadline is counted from the following day. The separate 4-day cooling-off rule must also be met.
The 4-day cooling-off period applies to the same motor vehicle in the same Member State after a cabotage period. Count from 00:00 on the day after the last cabotage unloading, not from the time of crossing the border. The deadline calculation must also account for weekends and public holidays under Regulation 1182/71. During the break, international transport, transit or remaining in that country is possible; a new cabotage period requires the break to have ended and a qualifying incoming international carriage.
In Germany, the responsible federal authority is BALM, the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility, formerly BAG. It and the police may check market-access, vehicle and driver documents. Whether a penalty or another measure follows depends on the actual infringement and the applicable procedure.
Documents required during a cabotage inspection
Having complete documentation is the key to avoiding problems.
Keep evidence of the preceding international carriage and every cabotage operation, a certified copy of the Community licence where required, and the driver’s and vehicle’s documents. For operations within scope, also provide the posting declaration and tachograph records. The actual obligations depend on the vehicle, employment relationship and operation, not just the country’s minimum-wage system.
For posted drivers within Directive 2020/1057, submit the declaration through the EU road-transport portal connected to IMI, at the latest when the posting starts, and keep it up to date. A declaration covers a driver, a host country and the declared period; it is not a separate notification of every individual load. Cabotage and cross-trade generally involve posting; bilateral transport and transit have exemptions. National portals such as SIPSI or MiLoG are not the notification channel for EU operators within this directive.
Penalties for illegal cabotage
Cabotage infringements can lead to fines, immobilisation or other enforcement measures. The amount and liable party depend on the country, the precise infringement and the applicable procedure. Serious or repeated infringements may also affect the operator’s good repute. A country’s maximum penalty is not a standard fine for every cabotage error, and compliance cannot be guaranteed solely by a planning tool.
Discuss the route, load and documentation with AMG-Trans before departure. Checking the sequence of operations, mass limits, posting and driving-time obligations helps reduce compliance risks. An enquiry form or planning tool supports this work; it does not replace the carrier’s assessment or guarantee that an inspection will find no infringement.
See how AMG-Trans organises transport that meets cabotage inspection requirements.
See also: How to plan cabotage legally and Cabotage in EU countries: where are the rules most restrictive? (PL).
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who is entitled to inspect cabotage operations?
In Germany, the responsible federal authority is BALM, the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility, formerly BAG. It and the police may check market-access, vehicle and driver documents. Whether a penalty or another measure follows depends on the actual infringement and the applicable procedure.
What happens during a typical roadside inspection in Germany?
In Germany, the responsible federal authority is BALM, the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility, formerly BAG. It and the police may check market-access, vehicle and driver documents. Whether a penalty or another measure follows depends on the actual infringement and the applicable procedure.
Keep evidence of the preceding international carriage and every cabotage operation, a certified copy of the Community licence where required, and the driver’s and vehicle’s documents. For operations within scope, also provide the posting declaration and tachograph records. The actual obligations depend on the vehicle, employment relationship and operation, not just the country’s minimum-wage system.
Which documents are checked during a cabotage inspection?
Keep evidence of the preceding international carriage and every cabotage operation, a certified copy of the Community licence where required, and the driver’s and vehicle’s documents. For operations within scope, also provide the posting declaration and tachograph records. The actual obligations depend on the vehicle, employment relationship and operation, not just the country’s minimum-wage system.
Is e-CMR accepted during a cabotage inspection?
Cabotage evidence may be presented electronically under Article 8(4a) of Regulation 1072/2009, provided the required information is accessible during the inspection. This does not mean that every digital document or e-CMR platform is automatically accepted everywhere. Legal equivalence of e-CMR depends on the Additional Protocol and its requirements in the countries concerned; check acceptance, access and an appropriate fallback before the journey.
What does AMG-Trans do to avoid problems during inspections?
Discuss the route, load and documentation with AMG-Trans before departure. Checking the sequence of operations, mass limits, posting and driving-time obligations helps reduce compliance risks. An enquiry form or planning tool supports this work; it does not replace the carrier’s assessment or guarantee that an inspection will find no infringement.
Sources checked for this update: EU · 1072/2009 · EU · IMI