max. 4
Companies per transport manager is the statutory upper limit, helping ensure that every transport business receives effective support.
Transport management
The transport manager: the key person behind your licence.
There is no EU operator licence without a transport manager. Learn what the role involves, what the law requires and how external transport management works with Verkehrsleiter24.
✓§3 GüKG✓EU-VO 1071/2009✓IHK-Fachkundeprüfung✓Effective & continuous management
In brief
What is a transport manager?
The transport manager is the IHK-qualified person who effectively and continuously manages your company’s transport activities, as required by Regulation (EC) 1071/2009. This is not a formality: the authority checks that management is genuinely performed. A transport manager may be employed by the business or nominated externally under contract.
50
Vehicles maximum may be managed in total by an external transport manager – we monitor this carefully.
2.5 t
Light commercial vehicles too have required an EU licence and transport manager for cross-border operations since May 2022.
Responsibilities
What your transport manager does – day after day.
Monitor driving and rest times
Driver cards and tachograph data are downloaded and evaluated regularly, and infringements are addressed with evidence.
Keep the fleet and deadlines under control
Roadworthiness inspections, safety checks, driving-licence checks and maintenance deadlines are identified before a vehicle is stopped.
Support authority and BALM inspections
Activity records, measures and decisions are ready to export and present immediately during inspections.
Instruct driving personnel
Regular instruction on social legislation and load securing is documented and can be evidenced at any time.
Review contracts, insurance and permits
Transport contracts, insurance cover and licences remain current, so nothing expires unnoticed.
Document everything verifiably
Every check and decision is recorded in the portal as robust evidence of effective and continuous management.
Two routes
Internal or external transport manager?
Option 1
Internal transport manager
You or a permanent employee passes the IHK competence examination and assumes management responsibility.
- IHK examination required
- Full personnel, salary and absence costs
- Licence at risk if the person leaves or is ill
- Suitable above a certain business size
Option 2 · Our model
External transport manager from Verkehrsleiter24
We arrange an IHK-qualified person from our network, who is then notified to the authority.
- No need to take the IHK examination yourself
- Replacement from the network if unavailable
- Ready to start – including for new businesses
- Predictable from €399/month including portal and driver app
Transport management FAQ
The most common questions.
What is a transport manager?
The professionally competent person who effectively and continuously manages your company’s transport activities. Without a nominated transport manager, there is no permit under Section 3 GüKG or EU operator licence.
Who needs a transport manager?
Every business carrying goods commercially for third parties: always for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and, since May 2022, for vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes in cross-border transport. Own-account carriage is exempt.
What does an external transport manager cost?
The specific price depends on fleet size and service scope. The current entry package is shown on our pricing page, and we agree the appropriate scope during the free initial consultation.
What happens if the transport manager is unavailable?
A new competent person must be nominated within the period set by the authority, otherwise the licence is at risk. We quickly provide a replacement from our network.
How many companies may an external transport manager manage?
A maximum of four companies with no more than 50 vehicles in total. We strictly monitor this statutory limit across our network.
Personally available
How to reach us.
Speak directly with our team or send a no-obligation access request.