How to check a haulage company's EU operator licence
Learn how to verify a haulage company's EU operator licence, since ERRU is not public and checks run through certified copies and national registers.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
To check if a haulage company holds a valid EU Community operator's licence, ask for a certified copy showing the licence number, issuing authority and expiry date, then confirm those details through that country's national transport register or competent authority, since ERRU itself is an inter-authority system, not a public search tool.
Is the ERRU register open to the public?
No. The European Register of Road Transport Undertakings (ERRU) connects national transport registers so that competent authorities across EU member states can exchange data with each other, not so that shippers booking freight can search it directly. It records the good repute of transport managers, the validity of Community licences and infringements committed abroad. Since 2023, ERRU's scope was extended to flag risk-rated operators and letterbox companies, so it remains an actively maintained system, just not a public one. That authority-to-authority design is why a company cannot simply look up a haulier online, and why the steps below matter.
How do you verify a Community licence with the issuing country?
Because ERRU is closed to outside parties, verification runs through the channels below instead. A team vetting a new carrier typically works through whichever is available for the country in question.
| Verification method | What it confirms / who can use it |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of the licence | Licence number, issuing member state and expiry date, requested directly from the carrier |
| National public register (where published) | Live status, though coverage varies since not every member state publishes one |
| Direct contact with the competent authority | Confirms validity when quoting the licence number and company name |
| ERRU | Authority-to-authority checks only, flagging unfit transport managers, infringements and letterbox companies, not searchable by companies or the public |
The UK public register of goods vehicle operators is a useful example of what a national register can offer, searchable by name, address or licence number. Not every member state publishes an equivalent tool, which is why calling the competent authority remains the fallback.
What should a genuine EU operator's licence document actually show?
A valid certified copy states the licence number, the issuing authority, the holder's legal name and address, and an expiry date, since licences run for a fixed period under Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009 and must be renewed rather than held indefinitely. A document missing these fields, or naming an authority that does not match the haulier's country of establishment, is a reason to dig further before booking a load. Storing certified copies and renewal dates against each carrier record in a transport management system catches expired licences automatically, before a shipment is already on the road.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ERRU database open to the public?
No. ERRU is an inter-authority exchange system used by national transport and enforcement authorities. It is not a public lookup tool, which is why verification relies on certified licence copies, national registers where they exist, or direct contact with the issuing authority.
What happens if a haulier is caught operating without a valid licence?
Operating without a valid Community licence is an enforcement matter in every EU member state and can lead to fines, vehicle immobilisation, or a record that surfaces in future ERRU checks by other authorities. Exact penalties vary by country, but the underlying offence is the same across the EU under Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009.
Do UK hauliers still need an EU Community licence after Brexit?
UK operators need a UK Licence for the Community , not an EU Community licence, for international journeys into the EU since the UK left the EU, and a separate ECMT permit only once they carry out more than two cross-trade jobs between EU countries. UK domestic operators still hold a UK operator's licence, verifiable through the GOV.UK public register.
How long is an EU operator's licence valid before it needs renewing?
Validity periods are set by the issuing authority rather than a single EU-wide term, and licences face periodic review of good repute, financial standing and professional competence under Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009. The expiry date on the certified copy is the figure to check, not an assumed renewal cycle.
Ready to hand carrier vetting to a team that already checks this for every haulier it works with? Request a quote and let Logifie handle the due diligence.
