A road transport company based in the Netherlands has become the first operator in the country to lose its EU community licence solely because it exceeded the infringement threshold in the European Register of Road Transport Undertakings (ERRU). The decision was announced by the Dutch licensing authority NIWO following an investigation by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT).

According to NIWO, the company accumulated such a high number of serious infringements that the total ERRU score went far beyond the permissible limit. As a result, the authority concluded that the haulier no longer met the requirement of “good repute” – one of the core conditions for holding a community licence.

Sanctions Imposed by the Licensing Authority

Based on the ERRU assessment, NIWO decided to suspend the company’s community licence for six months. In addition, the designated transport manager was declared unfit to hold this position for a period of two years. The name of the company has not been disclosed publicly.

Both sanctions have been temporarily put on hold after the operator filed an appeal, and the final court decision is expected in December. Even though the legal procedure is still ongoing, the case already marks a turning point in the practical use of the ERRU system in the Netherlands.

How the ERRU System Works

ERRU – the European Register of Road Transport Undertakings – links the national registers of licenced transport companies across EU member states. It allows authorities to exchange data on infringements committed by operators, including offences that occur outside the country where the company is registered.

Since the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/403 and the mobility package amendments, infringements are assigned points and grouped into three categories: most serious, very serious and serious. These include, for example, tachograph manipulation, repeated breaches of driving and rest time rules, dangerous overloading or illegal emissions-control tampering. The maximum number of points a company may accumulate depends on the size of its fleet.

When the threshold is exceeded, the licensing authority must reassess the company’s good repute. Depending on the outcome, measures can range from warnings and corrective plans to suspension or withdrawal of the licence and disqualification of the transport manager.

Why This Case Matters for European Road Transport

Until now, Dutch authorities mainly relied on warnings and corrective actions and were reluctant to base the most severe sanctions solely on ERRU scores. This latest case signals a shift towards a stricter enforcement approach that other EU countries may follow.

For hauliers, the message is clear: repeated non-compliance is no longer merely a financial risk, it can put their licence – and therefore their entire business model – at stake. For shippers and logistics clients, ERRU-based decisions offer an additional indicator when assessing the reliability of transport partners.

The Role of Digital Processes and Documentation

Many of the infringements that contribute to ERRU scores are linked to poor process control, fragmented documentation or lack of transparency. Digital solutions can help operators to structure their data, monitor compliance in real time and provide clear evidence during inspections.

JORLAR supports transport and logistics companies on their journey from manual paperwork to digital documentation and process management. By combining robust data management with clear procedures, companies can significantly reduce the risk of serious infringements – and protect their licence to operate across Europe.

Source

• Original article (in Polish) on Trans.info: Carrier loses licence after exceeding ERRU infringement threshold