Do you intend to transport goods in Germany by motor vehicle on a commercial basis or for a fee?
And do you use vehicles with a gross vehicle weight including trailer of more than 3.5 tonnes?
Then you need a licence from the local transport authority (company headquarters).
Cross-border road haulage
For cross-border goods transport, a permit is already required for motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of more than 2.5 tonnes, the so-called "Community licence". You can also use them for domestic German transport, but the permit requirement only applies here from a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tonnes. In addition, it authorises national transport in other EU/EEA states (cabotage transport).
A CEMT authorisation may also berequired for transport.With this authorisation, you may transport goods in cross-border commercial road haulage between 43 CEMT member states; the place of loading and unloading must be in two of the European states party to the agreement. These are the EU/EEA states and a large number of Eastern and South-Eastern European states. The Federal Office for Goods Transport is responsible for CEMT authorisations.
Transport with third countries (non-EU/EEA countries)
For transport to third countries that do not belong to the EU/EEA economic area, you require a licence for commercial road haulage for the domestic German part of the route. You can obtain "bilateral authorisations" for the route sections to third countries. The Federal Office for Goods Transport is responsible for this.
Please note: If you are travelling to or through Switzerland as part of commercial road haulage, you will need a valid Community licence.
Please note: Commercial road haulage does not include own-account transport. The transport of goods for own purposes falls under own account transport. The transport or delivery of goods that you consume, produce or process yourself may only be an ancillary activity. You do not need a licence for own-account transporta licence for own-account transport, but you must register this with the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility.