What are the cabotage rules in Finland?

Cabotage is domestic road haulage carried out temporarily by a carrier established in another country. In Finland, a foreign vehicle may make up to 3 cabotage trips within 7 days after an international delivery ends. A 4-day cooling-off period then applies, during which that vehicle may not do cabotage in Finland.

Finland applies the EU rules in Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2020/1055 , which the European Commission lists as applicable from 2022-02-21. In a news item dated 2026-05-11, Traficom , the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, restated the same limits for goods transport.

How many cabotage trips are allowed in Finland?

After an international load has been delivered in Finland, the same vehicle may carry out up to 3 cabotage trips, and the last one must end within 7 days of that delivery. Traficom also describes a second case: 1 cabotage trip within 3 days of arrival, which must end within 7 days when the vehicle enters Finland empty.

The trips must stay temporary and linked to the international transport. Read our EU cabotage rules guide for the full picture across member states, because the counting logic is the same everywhere.

What is the 4-day cooling-off period?

Once the permitted cabotage is finished, the vehicle must stay out of Finnish cabotage for 4 days. The period starts after the last permitted trip and applies to the vehicle, so a new series of domestic loads cannot begin before it has passed.

Dispatchers should plan the return leg accordingly. Recording each loading and unloading with GPS tracking for trucks makes the 7-day window easy to prove in a roadside or office check.

How does Finland enforce the rules?

Traficom states that cabotage is checked against G2V2 smart tachograph data and cargo information, so every border crossing and loading place must be recorded correctly. Finland also tightened its national provisions from 2026-05-15, for both goods and passenger transport.

A cabotage breach can bring a penalty payment of EUR 6,000 for the company. For goods transport, a further EUR 3,000 can apply when a salaried third-country driver has no driver attestation proving the employment terms. Carriers planning Finnish lanes can join the carrier network to find compliant return loads.

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreign truck do cabotage in Finland?

Yes, if the carrier is licensed in the EU and the work is temporary and linked to an international transport. The vehicle may make up to 3 trips within 7 days after the international delivery, then a 4-day cooling-off period applies.

What is the penalty for breaking cabotage rules in Finland?

Traficom reports a penalty payment of EUR 6,000 for the company. A further EUR 3,000 can be added for goods transport when a salaried third-country driver lacks the required driver attestation.

How long is the cabotage cooling-off period?

The cooling-off period is 4 days after the permitted cabotage ends. During this time the same vehicle may not carry out cabotage in Finland, as set in Regulation (EU) 2020/1055 and repeated by Traficom.

What data does Traficom use to check cabotage?

Traficom checks G2V2 smart tachograph records together with cargo information. Departure points and border crossings must be entered correctly, otherwise the trips cannot be matched to the international transport.

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