# Cabotage

*Last updated: 2026-06-16*

> Cabotage is the commercial carriage of goods or passengers between two points within the same country by a foreign operator.

Cabotage is the commercial carriage of goods or passengers between two points within the same country by a foreign operator. A truck registered in Poland hauling freight between Hamburg and Munich is performing cabotage in Germany. Within the EU, such operations are regulated and restricted to a limited number of domestic trips within a set time window following an international delivery, protecting domestic carriers from competitive distortion. Cabotage must be distinguished from transit: a vehicle that merely passes through a country without loading or unloading cargo there is not engaged in cabotage. The concept applies to road, maritime and air transport, though in aviation, cabotage by foreign carriers is prohibited in most jurisdictions unless explicitly permitted by bilateral agreements.

**Source:** [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009R1072](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009R1072)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Cabotage |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 119 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-16 |
| Source | https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009R1072 |

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*Logistics Glossary — Freight Academy: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cabotage-2](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cabotage-2)*

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