Editorial update: 2 October 2026. The original article date is retained; the regulatory and service information below has been updated for this translation.
Cross-trade and cabotage are often grouped together as “driving around Europe”, but legally they are two different operations. An incorrect classification can lead to an inspection, a penalty and a disrupted route plan. The licence threshold for international carriage for hire or reward is a maximum authorised mass above 2.5 tonnes, including any trailer.
Cross-trade: a practical definition
Cross-trade (carriage “between third countries”) means transport between two countries in neither of which the carrier is registered. For example, a carrier based in Poland operates a route from Germany to France. In the EU context, this is an international operation between two countries (two EU countries, or an EU country and a non-EU country), where the company is not established in either country.
Examples of cross-trade (3.5 tonnes)
- Polish carrier: DE → FR
- Polish carrier: BE → NL
- Czech carrier: AT → IT
Cabotage: definition and limit
Cabotage means domestic carriage in a foreign country: loading and unloading take place in the same country, which is not the carrier’s country of establishment. For example, a Polish carrier operates FR → FR. Cabotage in the EU is limited: after an “incoming international operation” into the country concerned, the carrier may carry out up to 3 operations within 7 days.
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.
The simplest test: 3 questions
- Are loading and unloading in the same country? Check whether it is the carrier’s country of establishment: if it is, the operation is domestic carriage; if not, it may be cabotage.
- Are they in different countries? The operation is international.
- Is the carrier established in either of those countries? If yes, it is generally bilateral transport; if neither, it is cross-trade. Crossing a border alone does not make an operation cross-trade.
When can an inspection “reclassify” cross-trade as cabotage?
The most common reasons are:
- an additional X → X domestic leg “along the way” that is not described in the order;
- unclear or inconsistent CMR/e-CMR documents: missing countries, dates or continuity between documents;
- no evidence of the “incoming” operation into the country where cabotage is carried out;
- operations in the wrong sequence, such as cabotage before all unloading from the international operation has been completed.
A short checklist before accepting an order
- Countries: loading / unloading / intermediate stops. Is there an X → X leg?
- Type of operation: bilateral / cross-trade / cabotage, including the applicable limits.
- Documents in the van: CMR/e-CMR, transport order, certified true copy of the Community licence (for international operations above 2.5 tonnes), and POD/booking confirmation establishing the sequence of operations.
What does this mean for vans up to 3.5 tonnes?
Since 21 May 2022, a Community licence is required for international carriage of goods for hire or reward with vehicles or vehicle combinations whose maximum authorised mass exceeds 2.5 tonnes. The threshold includes any trailer. The applicable exemptions must be checked; this is not a requirement for every vehicle below 3.5 tonnes. Operators within scope must also meet the professional, financial and good-repute requirements.
If you are planning EU routes and want to avoid cabotage risks, see our service: International transport up to 3.5 tonnes.
If you are unsure about a sequence of operations, such as multi-stop transport or split delivery, request an assessment: Request a quote and route validation.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is cross-trade in van transport?
It is carriage between two countries in neither of which the carrier is established. For example, a Polish carrier operates DE → FR.
How does cross-trade differ from cabotage?
Cross-trade is international: it crosses a border. Cabotage is domestic carriage in a foreign country (X → X), and is subject to limits: 3 operations within 7 days plus a 4-day cooling-off period.
Which documents demonstrate that cross-trade is lawful?
As a general rule, a correctly completed CMR/e-CMR, the transport order and the carrier’s documents. For light commercial vehicles above 2.5 tonnes in international operations, this also includes a certified true copy of the Community licence.
When can the authorities consider cross-trade to be cabotage?
When you are actually carrying out a domestic leg in a foreign country (X → X), or when the documents or sequence of operations indicate cabotage. Examples include missing evidence of the “incoming” operation, inconsistent CMR documents or an incorrect unloading sequence.
Sources checked for this update: EU · 1072/2009 · EU · 2020/1055 · EU · IMI