Published in the JORLAR News section
French control authorities have imposed one-year bans on cabotage operations for three road transport companies from Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia. The measures apply to operations on French territory and took effect on 1 December 2025.
The bans were announced by the prefecture of the Centre–Val de Loire region after a series of intensive roadside checks. According to the official decisions, the companies repeatedly and systematically breached EU rules on cabotage and drivers’ working time, thereby distorting fair competition and jeopardising road safety.
Background to the French Decisions
The largest number of infringements was attributed to a Lithuanian carrier. Between spring 2024 and spring 2025 inspectors documented dozens of cases of unlawful cabotage, missing mandatory “cooling-off” periods between cabotage series and failures to comply with social rules such as weekly rest, proper use of tachographs and the obligation to keep complete documentation on board the vehicle.
A Romanian company was sanctioned for repeatedly performing cabotage without a qualifying international transport beforehand as well as for organising insufficient weekly rest and allowing drivers to spend their regular weekly rest in the cab. Inspectors also reported problems with tachograph use and missing mandatory French “blind spot” markings on at least one vehicle.
The Slovak carrier faced restrictions after checks revealed non-compliance with the four-day cooling-off period, exceeded limits on the number of cabotage operations within seven days and cabotage movements more than three days after the vehicle had entered France empty. Authorities also referred to shortcomings in documentation related to the posting of drivers and infringements of weekly rest rules.
What the Case Means for the Market
These French decisions send a strong signal to the European road transport market. They show that national authorities are willing to use the full range of sanctions available when infringements are not isolated incidents but part of a systematic business model. For hauliers operating in or through France, sustainable compliance strategies are becoming a key competitive factor.
For shippers and logistics partners, the case underlines the importance of working only with operators who can prove consistent compliance with EU cabotage and social rules. Reputational and operational risks increase significantly when transport tasks are outsourced to carriers that push legal boundaries.
Digital Compliance as a Strategic Advantage
Robust documentation and transparent processes are essential to mitigate these risks. Digitised freight documents, structured storage of records and clear access to historical data make it easier to demonstrate compliance during roadside inspections or administrative audits.
At JORLAR, we support carriers and logistics companies on their way from paper-based processes to digital workflows. Properly implemented digital tools help companies reduce administrative effort, increase process reliability and protect their licence to operate in a more tightly regulated European market.
Source
- Original article (in Polish) on Trans.info: France removes three foreign carriers from its market
