Operating Abroad
International Road Haulage
Taking your vehicle abroad
Additional Information can be found from the following link: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Website.
Advice on community authorisations (Standard International operator licences only)
Extra authorisation is required for hauliers carrying out international journeys within the European Community. From 1 January 1993 all hauliers carrying goods for hire or reward in, or through European Community Countries, have been issued with, and require a Community Authorisation in addition to a Standard International operator’s licence. This authorisation replaces the need for community permits, bilateral permits between member states and permits for transit traffic through EU to and from non-member countries.
Community Authorisations are issued automatically, free of charge, to all hauliers who are granted a Standard International operator’s licence and are for use by that operator only. The issuing authority is the Traffic Commissioner for each area who has issued an international licence to an operator. The authorisation documents are sent out by the Traffic Area Offices with the international licence documents. The Community Authorisation documents comprise (for each licence):
- One community authorisation - this must be kept in the operator’s main office so that it can be inspected by Enforcement Authorities and
- Certified copies of the authorisation - an operator can ask to have certified copies equal to the number of motor vehicles authorised by the Standard International operator’s licence.
The certified copies are not vehicle specific. An operator needs to ensure that one certified copy of the authorisation is kept with each motor vehicle at all times while it is being operated on any international journey. It is an offence not to do so and enforcement agencies throughout the European Community will expect drivers to be able to produce the document at any time during an international road haulage journey.
Validity: Community Authorisations are issued for five year periods the first period starting on the date of first issue of the International Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence. In any circumstances where a Traffic Commissioner is considering revocation of an international licence he will also consider withdrawal of the Community Authorisation.
The issuing Traffic Area Office should be notified if any Community Authorisation documents become lost, damaged or stolen and the documents must be returned when a licence is surrendered, or otherwise terminates.
Back
International Buses
You can only run international services or perform cabotage if you have a standard international licence. Additionally, a restricted licence holder may undertake international journeys under the same conditions as national operators and may qualify for an own-account certificate allowing them to operate in the EU without the need for further authorisation. In all cases you will have to obey all the international rules. For regular services, shuttle services without accommodations and residual occasional services, you will need to get permission from the Department for Transport and from the appropriate authorities in the countries you are visiting.
For other services waybills are required and can be obtained from: The Confederation of Passenger Transport, Imperial House, 15-19 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6UN, Tel: 020 7240 3131
In all cases advice can be sought from: The International Road Freight Office, City House, 126-130 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 1NP. Tel: 0870 6060440
Back
News
8 July 2008 Gallagher review calls for Biofuels use to slow down
The Renewable Fuels Agency's Gallagher review into the indirect effects of biofuels is released today (7 July). [This information is held on an external site]
17 July 2008 Kelly announces £6bn motorway improvements
London will receive £2.1m through the Urban Congestion Performance Fund [This information is held on an external site]
17 July 2008 Revised implementation dates for EU directive 2000/56/EC regarding minimum test vehicle requirements
On 27th June EU officials agreed that Member States could delay until 30 September 2013 the use of heavier vehicles/vehicle-trailer combinations for driving tests [This information is held on an external site]