Intermodal transport: combined transport of goods between EU countries

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 92/106/EEC — common rules for certain types of combined transport of goods between EU countries

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

It aims to promote intermodal* transport operations by supporting the international operations meeting certain criteria (i.e. so called combined transport or CT) by:
- safeguarding CT from national restrictions (authorisation schemes, tariffs and quotas);
- clarifying that road cabotage * restrictions do not apply to the CT road legs;
- allowing heavier and bigger loads for vehicles used in CT road legs;
- granting financial support through tax incentives and extended definition of own-account transport for CT operations.

KEY POINTS

Scope

The directive refers to the CT of goods between EU countries where:

the vehicle or trailer uses the road on the initial or final leg of the journey; and
on the other leg, rail or inland waterway or maritime services where this section exceeds 100 km as the crow flies; and
makes the initial or final road transport leg of the journey:
- between the point where the goods are loaded and the nearest suitable rail loading station for the initial leg and between the nearest suitable rail unloading stations and the point where the goods are unloaded for the final leg, or
- within a radius not exceeding 150 km as the crow flies from the inland waterway port or seaport of loading or unloading.

Authorised dimensions and maximum weights for trucks carrying out cross-border travel are set out in Directive 96/53/EC (see summary).

Transport document

The transport document to be provided in the case of CT must specify:

the rail loading and unloading stations relating to the rail leg; and
the inland waterway loading and unloading ports relating to the inland waterway leg or the maritime loading and unloading ports relating to the maritime section of the journey.

Cross-border transport

All hauliers established in an EU country who meet the conditions of access to the occupation and access to the market for transport of goods between EU countries may, in the context of a CT operation, carry out initial and/or final road haulage legs which form an integral part of the operation and which may or may not include the crossing of a frontier.
The directive sets out specific rules for CT operations where the dispatching/receiving party carries out the initial/final road haulage leg on its own account. The receiving/dispatching party may then also carry out the transport operation on its own account under certain conditions.

Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009 sets out common EU rules for access to the EU haulage market aimed at non-resident hauliers carrying out road cabotage (see summary).

EU countries’ obligations

EU countries must take measures to ensure that the motor vehicle taxes applicable to road vehicles routed in combined transport are reduced or reimbursed.

Review

The European Commission must draw up a report to the Council every 2 years on the development of CT.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

It has applied since 15 December 1992 and had to become law in the EU countries by 30 June 1993.

BACKGROUND

For further information see:

Multimodal and combined transport (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

Intermodal: the transport of goods using rail, inland waterway or maritime services in addition to road transport.

Cabotage: where a haulier registered in one EU country carries out national transport in another EU country.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Directive 92/106/EEC of 7 December 1992 on the establishment of common rules for certain types of combined transport of goods between Member States (OJ L 368, 17.12.1992, pp. 38-42)

Successive amendments to Directive 92/106/EEC have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.