What is Cabotage?

Cabotage is the transport of goods within one country by a carrier registered in another. In EU road freight it is allowed only under strict limits, so foreign hauliers can use return capacity without undercutting domestic operators.

EU cabotage rules

Under Regulation (EC) 1072/2009, as amended by the Mobility Package (in force since 21 February 2022), a non-resident carrier may:

• perform up to three cabotage operations in the host member state, the last unloading falling within seven days of the last unloading of the incoming international carriage, and
• then observe a four-day "cooling-off" period before running cabotage again in that same country with the same vehicle.

Two separate changes get confused here. Vehicles with a permissible laden mass above 2.5 tonnes have needed a Community licence, and so come under the cabotage regime, since 21 May 2022. Separately, since 1 July 2026, driving-time, rest and tachograph rules apply to those same vehicles when they are used in international transport or cabotage. Note that 2.5 tonnes itself stays exempt: the rule bites above it.

Why cabotage is limited

The aim is to cut empty return runs and improve efficiency in road freight, while protecting national markets from permanent foreign competition. Breaching the limits can mean fines and a temporary ban from cabotage.

Staying compliant means tracking where and when each cabotage operation took place. Planning tours in the Planner Module from IMPARGO keeps routes, dates and per-country costs documented, so a cabotage sequence is easy to follow.