What is cabotage and which EU rules apply to it?

Cabotage is domestic carriage performed by a foreign haulier on the territory of another member state, after an international trip. It is allowed, but strictly limited. Below you see the 3-in-7 rule, the cooling-off period and the evidence checks require.

Short answer

Cabotage is allowed only after a completed international trip, with the goods unloaded in the host state.
You may perform at most 3 cabotage operations within 7 days of unloading the international shipment.
Once the 3 operations are used up, the same vehicle cannot perform cabotage in that state for 4 days.
You must be able to prove at a check both the preceding international trip and each cabotage operation.
From 1 July 2026, vehicles of 2.5-3.5 tonnes operating internationally follow the same limits as heavy vehicles.

What the law says (in brief)

Cabotage is governed by Regulation (EC) 1072/2009, as amended by the Mobility Package.
The 4-calendar-day cooling-off period was introduced precisely to prevent systematic cabotage.
Drivers performing cabotage are considered posted workers and are entitled to the host state minimum wage under Directive (EU) 2020/1057.
The required evidence consists of the CMR consignment notes for the international trip and for each cabotage operation.
If the vehicle was in the host state during the 4 days before the international trip, evidence is also required for that period.

Practical example

Example: a Romanian truck unloads goods in Milan brought from Timisoara. Over the next 7 days it can run 3 domestic trips in Italy, for instance Milan to Bologna, Bologna to Verona, Verona to Turin. After the third trip, the vehicle cannot perform cabotage in Italy for 4 days: it either leaves with an international trip or waits.

Common mistakes

Counting operations per company instead of per vehicle; the limit applies to the vehicle.
Treating one trip with several unloading points as several operations, or the other way round.
Not declaring the posting in the IMI system before the first cabotage operation.
Keeping the consignment notes only with the driver, so you cannot present them at a later check at the office.

How 4transports helps

Each trip records origin and destination, so you see which operations a vehicle ran abroad.
CMRs stay recorded on the trip, so you find them months later for an office inspection.
4transports does not do GPS tracking or count cabotage operations automatically; the record comes from the trips.