The cabotage regulation complicates international transport within the EU

There are several legal regulations to be observed within the transport industry. The regulations are particularly extensive in the international arena, as there are both EU-wide and country-specific laws that must be complied with by transport companies. This applies, for example, to cabotage transport within the EU. When journeys are carried out in a non-EU country by a company based in another EU country, there are a number of regulations to consider. Carriers are only allowed to carry out up to a maximum of three cabotage transports within a week with the same vehicle following a cross-border transport after the goods have been fully unloaded. However, this only applies if all cabotage transports are carried out within one country. On February 21, 2022, Mobility Package I, passed by the European Parliament, came into effect, which stipulates that no further cabotage transport operations can be carried out in that country within four days of the end of the cabotage operations. This so-called "cooling-off period" is intended to prevent systematic cabotage and the gaining of an unfair competitive advantage in the future.

Semitrailer trucks in Sweden: Shortened transport routes and reduced emissions

To avoid constant border crossings into Sweden, three inTime semitrailer trucks with Swedish license plates are now on the roads of the Scandinavian country. By registering the trucks in Sweden, cabotage regulations and long transport routes can be circumvented. This also has a positive impact on the environment, as this solution contributes to CO2 savings. To ensure that the vehicles are ready for use, they were previously equipped with toll boxes and trailers at the inTime headquarters in Isernhagen - and off they went. The trucks have now been on the roads of Sweden since December 2022.