Cabotage is the carriage of goods within an EU member state by a carrier not established in that country, following an incoming international delivery. In practice: a foreign haulier who, having unloaded the international shipment, performs domestic transport in the country of arrival before returning home.
The limits
The EU Mobility Package limits cabotage to prevent systematic use: a maximum number of operations within a period set from the international delivery, followed by a “cooling-off” period during which the same vehicle can’t run new cabotage in the same country. The driver-posting rules also always apply to cabotage.
Why it matters for fleets
Cabotage is one of the areas that triggers stricter obligations, including use of the smart tachograph G2V2 on light vehicles from 2026. For practical cases on vans and own-account transport, see the guide on cabotage, own-account and occasional trips.
FAQ
What’s the difference between cabotage and international transport?
International transport links two different countries; cabotage is transport within one country carried out by a carrier from another country, following an international delivery.
Does cabotage trigger the tachograph obligation on vans?
Yes: cabotage operations for hire and reward are among the cases that, from 1 July 2026, require the G2V2 on vehicles over 2.5 t up to 3.5 t.