Domestic road transport undertaken by non-resident hauliers almost doubled in the EU between 1999 and 2004. Despite an 86% increase during this period, this so-called ‘road cabotage transport’ still makes up only a tiny fraction of total road transport in the EU: 0.76%. Nevertheless road cabotage transport is of greater significance in specific areas, such as in and nearby ports and in border regions.

This is one of the conclusions from the ECORYS report ‘Road cabotage in the freight transport market’, which the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy and Transport released last week. The report explores the EU Member States’ regulatory regimes on road cabotage and assesses the way in which Member States control this type of transport operation. The study also includes recommendations on how the various stakeholders engaged in road cabotage services can improve the system

Client: European Commission – Directorate General for Energy and Transport.