Does posting apply to own-account transport?
Yes. The posting rules follow the type of operation, not the commercial nature of the carriage, so own-account cabotage and cross-trade are treated the same way.
Compliance guide
Posting of drivers: IMI declarations, cabotage and cross-trade
Directive (EU) 2020/1057 created sector-specific posting rules for road transport. The practical question for a dispatcher is simple: for this load, is the driver posted, and if so what has to exist before the wheels turn?
8 min read · Last reviewed 20 August 2026
Key takeaways
- Bilateral transport and pure transit do not trigger posting.
- Cabotage always triggers posting, from the first operation.
- Cross-trade between two member states other than the country of establishment triggers posting.
- Declarations are submitted in the IMI public interface before the operation starts.
- Drivers must be able to present the declaration, eCMR or consignment notes and tachograph records at the roadside.
When a driver is posted — and when not
| Operation | Posted? |
|---|---|
| Bilateral: loading in the country of establishment, unloading in another member state (or the reverse) | No |
| Transit through a member state without loading or unloading | No |
| Cabotage: national carriage inside a host member state | Yes, from the first operation |
| Cross-trade between two member states, neither being the country of establishment | Yes |
| Additional loading or unloading during a bilateral journey | Depends — limited additional activities are tolerated under strict conditions |
The classification is per operation, not per driver or per trip. A single tour can contain a bilateral leg that is exempt and a cross-trade leg that is not, which is why the tolerance for informal planning has effectively disappeared.
What the IMI declaration contains
- Operator identity, transport manager details and the operator's Community licence number.
- Driver identity, address, driving licence number and driver card number.
- Start date of the employment contract and the law applicable to it.
- Planned start and end date of the posting.
- Registration numbers of the vehicles used.
- Whether the transport is carriage of goods or passengers, cabotage or cross-trade.
The declaration is valid for a period of up to six months and must be submitted before the posting starts. Host member states may request further documents through IMI for up to eight weeks after the posting period, including pay records and time sheets — so wage documentation has to be reconstructible, not just the route.
What the driver must be able to show
- A copy of the posting declaration, in paper or electronic form.
- Evidence of the transport operations taking place in the host member state — typically eCMR or consignment notes.
- Tachograph records showing the country symbols of the member states entered.
Cabotage limits and the cooling-off period
Following an incoming international carriage, an operator may perform up to three cabotage operations in the host member state within seven days. After the last cabotage operation with a given vehicle in a member state, that vehicle may not perform further cabotage in the same member state for four days — the cooling-off period.
Enforcement now uses the tachograph's loading and unloading records, so a cooling-off breach is visible in the vehicle data even without a roadside stop. Planning software that does not model the four-day rule per vehicle and per country creates liability every week.
Primary sources
This guide is written for operational planning and is not legal advice. Rules are applied and enforced differently across member states — always verify against the current legal text and your national authority.
Keep the paperwork attached to the load
Depot2Door records border crossings, keeps digital consignment notes per stop and gives drivers a one-tap document view — the evidence a roadside check asks for, in the driver's own language.
Frequently asked questions
How long is an IMI posting declaration valid?
Up to six months. A new declaration is required when the period expires or when the declared details, such as the driver or the vehicles used, change.
Which wage applies to a posted driver?
The remuneration rules of the host member state apply for the posted period, including any generally applicable collective agreements. Allowances specific to the posting count towards it only if they are not reimbursement of expenses.
Is transit really exempt if the driver takes a rest there?
Yes. Transit without loading or unloading does not trigger posting, and taking a break or rest period during transit does not change that.
Continue reading
EU driving time and rest rules explained (Regulation 561/2006)
A practical 2026 guide to EU Regulation 561/2006: daily and weekly driving limits, the 45-minute break, split breaks, reduced rests, compensation rules and how fleets prove compliance.
eCMR explained: the electronic consignment note in European road freight
What an eCMR is, the legal basis under the CMR Additional Protocol and the eFTI Regulation, which countries accept it, and how to move a fleet from paper consignment notes to digital proof.