Operating Licences
An operating licence is required when engaging in remunerated good transport.
A current operating licence must also be held when engaging in goods transportation under special licence. This form of haulage is governed by the Act on Commercial Haulage of Goods by Road.
An operating licence may be a corporate licence, a domestic operating licence or a tractor vehicle licence. Either a corporate or tractor vehicle licence is issued to new applicants. The domestic licences previously in use are issued to current licence holders on renewal of licence or on enlargement of vehicle fleet.
A corporate licence issued in Finland entitles the holder to engage in licensed goods haulage in Finland and abroad, with the exception of the Åland Islands. Internal operators on the Åland Islands must hold an operating licence issued by the Government of Åland. A domestic licence entitles the holder to engage in licensed goods haulage in Finland, with the exception of the Åland Islands.
Section 7 of the Act on Commercial Haulage of Goods by Road exempts certain forms of goods transportation from licensing requirements. These include transportation of loads using a vehicle or vehicle combination of total mass not exceeding 2 metric tonnes.
Applying for a licence
Corporate licences, domestic operating licences and tractor vehicle licences are issued by the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment. The application must be submitted in writing to local Center for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment administering the district in which the applicant is domiciled. Licences are issued for a five-year period, and must be renewed before they expire.
Goods haulage operating licence application,
required appendices and instructions for applying (form only in Finnish)
An application for an operating licence must include a certified copy of a certificate showing that the applicant satisfies the vocational competence requirements (when applying for the first licence) and an original certificate of adequate financial solidity issued no sooner than three months before the application is lodged.
Conditions for issuing an operating licence
An applicant for an operating licence must:
Amendment and renewal of operating licence
The procedure for amending or renewing an operating licence is the same as for issuing a new licence.
Revocation of operating licence
The licensing authority may revoke an operating licence, either for a specified period or indefinitely, if the licence holder no longer satisfies the requirements for issuing an operating licence, or if offences have occurred in the operating practice.
Instead of revoking the licence, a written caution may be issued to a licence holder in the event of minor infractions or offences.
