The decision was taken by the prefect of the Centre-Val de Loire region, citing serious and repeated breaches of the rules. The main issues involved violations of drivers’ working-time rules and illegal cabotage operations which – in the view of the French authorities – undermine both safety and fair competition in the market.
One-year cabotage ban for repeated violations
As the prefecture reported, the sanctions took effect on 1 April 2026 and mean a complete ban on carrying out cabotage operations in France for a period of one year.
Due to the seriousness and repeated nature of the violations committed in France, the prefect of the Centre-Val de Loire region imposed sanctions on three road transport companies from Poland, Lithuania and Romania” – the statement reads.
According to the findings, “the violations mainly concerned the rules on driving time and rest periods, as well as improper cabotage operations”.
This is another example of the French authorities’ consistent policy towards foreign carriers. Of the 15 cabotage bans currently in force in the country, as many as 6 were issued in the Centre-Val de Loire region, which – as the prefecture stresses – “demonstrates a firm commitment to combating violations”.
Safety and competition under scrutiny
The French authorities leave no doubt as to the reasons for such decisive measures. The statement emphasised that the violations have real consequences for the market and for safety.
Failure to comply with the rules on driving time and rest periods endangers the safety of road users” – the prefecture points out.
At the same time, attention was drawn to the impact of illegal cabotage on the transport market: “Illegal cabotage practices create an economic imbalance between companies, fuelling unfair competition”.
In the authorities’ view, such actions also lead to social dumping and a deterioration in drivers’ working conditions, which in the longer term weakens the entire sector.
Cabotage under strict control
France reminds that cabotage – i.e. domestic transport carried out by a carrier from another European Union Member State – is subject to strict regulations.
Their aim is to prevent market destabilisation by companies taking advantage of lower labour costs, which could harm local carriers.
To prevent unfair competition, this practice is strictly regulated” – the statement noted.
Cost pressure adds to the challenge
The tightening of checks and sanctions comes at a particularly difficult time for the industry. The French authorities point out that fuel price volatility is further increasing pressure on transport companies.
Compliance with competition rules is all the more important today to support the sector, as carriers are facing ongoing fuel price volatility” – it was emphasised.
When energy costs significantly squeeze companies’ margins, any form of unfair competition – including illegal cabotage – further worsens market conditions.
A continuation of a hard-line policy
The current decisions fit into a broader trend that has been visible for many months. Earlier, French authorities had already removed carriers from Central and Eastern Europe from the market for systematic breaches of regulations.
At the end of 2025 three companies from Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia were excluded from the French market after a series of intensive inspections. In one case, inspectors documented as many as 35 violations in less than a year, including illegal cabotage operations, the lack of the required break period between journeys, as well as numerous breaches of social regulations, including incorrect driving and rest times and theft abuse. A lack of the required documentation and technical defects in vehicles were also found. In the prefecture’s assessment the systematic and repeated nature of the violations fully justified imposing one-year cabotage bans.
