To operate goods vehicles for hire in the EU, an undertaking must meet four requirements under Regulation 1071/2009: effective and stable establishment, good repute, financial standing and professional competence. The transport manager is the person who brings the competence and answers for good repute.
Financial standing is set at €9,000 for the first vehicle and €5,000 for each additional vehicle. Professional competence is proven by a certificate obtained through an examination on the eight subjects of Annex I: civil, commercial, social and fiscal law, business management, market access, technical standards and road safety.
A forwarder that only arranges transport with other people’s vehicles does not need one; it does the moment it runs its own trucks.
Related terms