New rules for the transportation of goods by road
The Federal Council has adopted amendments to the Ordinance on the Licensing of Road Transport Companies. They concern, among other things, proof of the company's registered office and the requirements for financial capacity.
In the 2024 summer session, Parliament passed various amendments to the Federal Act on the Licensing of Road Transport Companies. Among other things, a licensing requirement will be introduced for companies that use delivery vans over 2.5 tons for the transport of goods in cross-border traffic. Measures against bogus companies ("letterbox companies") are also planned. The amendments are intended to promote fairer competition and professionalization in the transport industry.
At its meeting on March 14, 2025, the Federal Council amended the Ordinance on the Licensing of Road Transport Companies for Passenger and Goods Transport on the basis of this change to the law.
On the one hand, the ordinance will in future contain more precise regulations regarding proof of the company's registered office. This is intended to prevent foreign transport companies from setting up letterbox companies in Switzerland in order to circumvent the cabotage ban. On the other hand, the Federal Council has set the amounts for proof of financial capacity for light vehicles and at the same time reduced the existing amounts for vehicles over 3.5 tons.
Companies that only use vehicles up to 3.5 tons and only transport goods within Switzerland remain exempt from the license requirement.
The amendments to the law and ordinance will enter into force on May 1, 2025.
Source: Federal Office of Transport
