The commercial provision of transportation services using vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 3.5 metric tons requires a permit. A distinction must be made between a permit for commercial motor carrier operations (valid only within Germany) and a Community license (valid within the European Union). The key factors for granting a license are:

• professional competence

A professional proficiency exam administered by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or training as a transportation specialist or freight forwarding clerk (training begun before December 4, 2011)

• Financial Capacity

Equity capital of EUR 9,000 for the first vehicle and EUR 5,000 for each additional vehicle

• Personal reliability

A certificate of good conduct and an extract from the Central Trade Register must be requested from the local civil registry offices and forwarded directly by them to the licensing authority. If entrepreneurs are already self-employed, they must also submit clearance certificates from the tax office, the employees’ health insurance providers, and the workers’ compensation association. The documents verifying personal reliability must not be more than 3 months old at the time of application.

The application must be submitted to the locally competent licensing authority (based on the company’s place of business).