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 principles, financial management of the company, knowledge of technical standards and regulations as well as road safety. 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 preparation 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 freight forwarding sector for ten years before 2009, you can be issued a certificate of aptitude upon application without taking the examination. A corresponding certificate of professional competence will be issued by the IHK. See also the information sheet in the further information section.