Rules for international transport and drivers

Truck drivers must register any border crossing in the tachograph. This must be done using a country code.

Newly registered lorries must have a type 2 smart tachograph (SMT2). A smart tachograph automatically tracks the location of the vehicle and registers border crossings.

Check which tachograph is compulsory for your vehicle.

There are rules for driving times, rest periods and rest facilities. Drivers must not drive for too long and must take regular breaks and rest periods. The tachograph in the vehicle records driving and rest times. During an inspection, drivers must be able to produce the data for the current day and the previous 56 days (8 weeks). Drivers may also, for example, rest in suitable accommodation at the employer’s expense for their weekly rest period.

Drivers from the Netherlands who are posted abroad are entitled to the minimum wage, collective labour agreement wage, and certain employment conditions of the EU country where they are working. They must also get a posting certificate.

Rules also apply when posting foreign drivers to the Netherlands.

There are rules on how and where a transport company can be based (in Dutch). The EU’s aim is to prevent the use of letterbox companies and to make international freight transport fairer. A letterbox company is a business that only has a postal address in a particular country, whilst the business and its staff are based in another country.

Also, a vehicle that transports goods internationally must return to the EU country where it is based every 8 weeks. This is called ‘return home vehicle’.

International transport has rules on cabotage (in Dutch). Cabotage means that a transport company transports goods between 2 points within another EU country. For example, a Spanish transport business transports products between 2 cities in the Netherlands. Trucks are allowed to make a maximum of 3 cabotage trips in 7 days. Afterwards, they must leave the country.

After the last cabotage trip, a truck is not allowed to do any more cabotage trips for 4 days in that EU country. This is called the 'cooling-off period'.

Combined transport

For pre- and post transport within 1 country, cabotage rules also apply. But countries may choose to make the periods shorter or longer.

Trucks carrying out international journeys often require a Euro licence. If you wish to apply for a Euro licence, your transport company must meet certain conditions.

Find out when a Euro licence is compulsory and what the conditions are.