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Mobility and Transport

Access to the road haulage market

As of 4 December 2011, access to the international road haulage market is governed by Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009 that replaces Regulation (EEC) 881/92. The provisions of this Regulation concerning road cabotage are applicable as of 14 May 2010.

This Regulation modernises, simplifies and streamlines rules in the road haulage transport sector in order to improve the efficiency of the EU by harmonising rules on cabotage and minimising the administrative burden to the industry.

Article 17(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009 requires the Commission to draw up a report on the state of the EU road haulage market in order to assess whether market conditions such as the effectiveness of controls and employment conditions in the profession, road user charges, social and safety legislation have converged to the point where further opening of national road transport markets could be envisaged. This report – the Report on the State of the Union Road Transport Market (COM(2014)222) - was adopted in April 2014.

Prior to the adoption of the report, former Vice-President Kallas called together a group of "wise men" to produce a report on the development of the EU road haulage market. This High Level Group of independent experts presented its recommendations to Mr Kallas on 19 June 2012.

(Disclaimer: This report commits only the members of the high level group involved in its preparation and does not prejudge the final form of any decision to be taken by the European Commission)

Legislation

Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009 on common rules for access to the international road haulage market

Policy and other related documents

  • 20 JULY 2021
An Overview of the EU Road Freight Transport Market in 2015 (2017)
  • 20 JULY 2021
Report on the State of the Union Road Transport Market [COM(2014)222]
  • 20 JULY 2021
The new cabotage regime under Regulation (EC) no 1072/2009: Questions & Answers
  • 7 MARCH 2024
Community licences road freight transport 2007-2022
  • 7 MARCH 2024
Driver attestations in road freight transport 2007-2022

High Level Group on the EU road haulage market

  • 20 JULY 2021
Report of the High Level Group on the Development of the EU Road Haulage Market: Final report (June 2012)
  • 20 JULY 2021
Report of the High Level Group on the Development of a Single European Transport Area: Summary of recommendations (June 2012)