The subject of international delivery work may be a controversial one among the ranks of haulage companies and associations, but as a niche within the delivery and courier markets, it is booming. More and more companies are expanding their services beyond the borders of their respective countries of origin, and international haulage links and networks spanning several countries are quickly increasing in number.
Still, as popular as this type of service is becoming, a major shortcoming still affects its drivers; the lack of proper information regarding the licenses and permits required to carry out this type of activity internationally. Listed in the lines below are some of these documents, which will hopefully help raise awareness on this topic among the haulier industry as a whole.
EU Licenses
Drivers wanting to carry out delivery work within the European Union will need to take out two different kinds of permits, both of which can be acquired together. The first of these is the Standard Operators’ License for International Transport, which drivers will need if they are to perform work both in and outside the United Kingdom. Generally, this certification is only attributed to drivers who have achieved a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). In addition, drivers hauling hazardous goods will need a second certificate to add to this one, known as the ADR, or Certificate of Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, before they can travel internationally.
The second document necessary to carry out delivery work outside of Europe is much easier to get and so much so, in fact, that it is sent free of charge to any driver who acquires a Standard Operators’ License. These are the so-called Community Licenses, which give drivers free roam of every country within the European Union, plus four which are not a part of it, but fall within the EEA: Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.
Further Afield
Drivers wishing to carry out international haulage work outside of the European Union, on the other hand, are going to need to apply for either a bi-lateral or multi-lateral road haulage permit. These work primarily in Eastern Europe, as well as Morocco and Turkey, and allow drivers to freely commute between two countries (in the case of the bi-lateral permits) or any number of member nations (in the case of multi-lateral permits.)
These documents are usually taken out with the International Road Freight Office, a division of the Vehicles and Operator Services Agency.
Other Permits
Aside from these common and necessary types of permits, many other minor licenses exist that hauliers can apply for in order to gain certain perks when executing delivery work outside their country of origin.
Business owners hauling goods for their own company, for instance, can benefit from what is usually known as ‘own account traffic’. While bound by a series of rules and exceptions, this type of traffic can allow goods to be hauled internationally without a permit. Removal companies operating in several different countries can also get a special permit for their travels. Finally, drivers equipped with a Community License can deliver goods between two points in the same country within a set period of time, even if their vehicles are not registered there.
While all these options may, at first, seem a little confusing, drivers will soon find out that this is not the case; international haulage laws are relatively simple, and ultimately come down to knowing what you need on each occasion.