Road haulage; registration for the examination to acquire the professional qualification to run a company

To open a company that transports goods by road, you must prove your professional suitability.

You need this certificate to apply for a road haulage permit for national road haulage or an EU license for road haulage in the European Union. As an entrepreneur or transport manager, you must prove that you are professionally qualified to run a road haulage company.

As a rule, you provide this proof by passing an examination. In Germany, you take the examination at your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

In the examination, you must provide evidence of the legal knowledge, commercial basics, knowledge of technical standards and regulations as well as traffic safety required for the company. You will also find a more detailed list in the orientation framework, which is linked in the further information.

You should prepare intensively for the exam, for example by attending a preparatory course or studying intensively on your own. However, there are no legal requirements for registering for the exam.

The examination is a comprehensive examination consisting of two written and one oral part. At least 50 percent of the respective score must be achieved in both written parts in order to be admitted to the oral examination. The examination is passed if at least 50 percent of the points have also been achieved in the oral examination and at least 60 percent of the total number of points. Those who have achieved at least 50 percent of the achievable score in both written parts and at least 60 percent of the total score are exempt from the oral examination.

In certain cases, transitional regulations may allow you to be certified as suitable without taking the examination. If you have completed training in the field of freight forwarding/logistics that began before December 4, 2011, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce will issue you with a certificate upon request, even without taking the examination.

If you had already been working in a managerial position in the forwarding industry for ten years before 2009, you can apply for a certificate of aptitude without taking the examination. See also the information sheet in the further information section.

• The following documents are required:
  • If evidence by examination: none
  • If evidence by degree: Proof of having passed the final examination
  • In case of proof by professional experience: proof of your professional activities

• For examination registration: none
• For proof through training: Completion of an apprenticeship started before 4.12.2011 as:
  • Rail and road transport clerk, specializing in road haulage
  • Freight forwarding clerk
  • Transport specialist
  • Diplom-Betriebswirt/Diplom-Betriebswirtin in the field of economics, specializing in freight forwarding at the vocational academies in Lörrach and Mannheim
  • Diplom-Betriebswirt/Diplom-Betriebswirtin (Diploma in Business Administration) in the Economics I course of study in Transport Economics and Logistics, specializing in freight transport at Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences,
  • Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration/Forwarding, Transport and Logistics at the Lörrach and Mannheim Universities of Cooperative Education
  • Bachelor of Arts, Transport Business Administration and Logistics, specializing in transport logistics at Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences
• For proof through professional experience:
  • At least 10 years of managerial activity in a road haulage company

To obtain proof of aptitude by examination, first register for the examination in writing or online at your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

• The IHK will confirm your registration for the examination.
• You first successfully take the two written examinations.
• After passing the written exam, you will take the oral exam.
• Approximately 14 days after passing the exam, you will receive your certificate of professional qualification.

With this certificate, you can now apply for a license to open your business with the relevant authorities.

To provide proof of professional suitability without taking the examinations, send your written application including all supporting documents to the IHK. After processing, you will receive your certificate by post.

As a rule, you will receive notification of whether you have passed or failed the examination approximately two weeks after taking it.

The examination fee is based on the applicable fee schedule of the relevant IHK.