GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Sep 9, 2026
cabotage
Cabotage in road freight refers to domestic haulage carried out commercially by a foreign carrier within another country – for example, a Romanian operator picking up a load in Paris and delivering it to Bordeaux after completing an international run.
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Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009R1072
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Definition & Explanation
Cabotage in road freight refers to domestic haulage carried out commercially by a foreign carrier within another country – for example, a Romanian operator picking up a load in Paris and delivering it to Bordeaux after completing an international run. The term originates in maritime law, where it described coastal shipping. Within the EU, cabotage is permitted in principle for EU-licensed carriers but subject to strict time limits and enforcement by national transport authorities; operators from third countries face outright prohibition or highly restrictive conditions. It is important to distinguish cabotage from transit: transit means crossing a country without loading or unloading goods domestically, while cabotage involves active commercial haulage within that country. Penalties for violations can include substantial fines and loss of operating licences.
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