Become a professional goods transporter with Cocolis

1 - Obtaining the professional goods transport qualification

If you want to work as a road goods transporter, you must first obtain a “goods transport qualification” which proves your ability to transport goods.

There are 2 types of goods transport qualification depending on the maximum authorised weight (MAW) of the vehicle used:

• The light goods transport qualification if your vehicle weighs less than 3.5 tonnes.
• The heavy goods transport qualification if your vehicle weighs more than 3.5 tonnes.

The transport qualifications can be obtained in 3 ways:

• Either by written exam: Light transport qualification: the exam takes place after completing a mandatory 105-hour training course offered by an organisation approved by the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. Heavy transport qualification: annual national exam organised by the DREAL (regions) or the DRIEA (Ile de France). Registration is open until July, the exam takes place in October.
• Or through your professional experience: Light transport qualification: if you have managed a goods transport company for at least 2 years without interruption in the last 10 years. Heavy transport qualification: if you have managed a transport company for 10 years.
• Or through your diplomas. The list of diplomas can be requested from the DREAL.

Whichever way you obtain the qualification, registration is done with the DREAL using the Cerfa form no. 11414*05 and by providing the necessary supporting documents.

Are you currently retraining? Unemployed? Employed? We recommend contacting a training centre near you, which will offer solutions to finance your training.

List of approved training organisations: Ile-de-France, Normandy, Hauts-de-France, Pays-de-la-Loire, Centre-Val-de-Loire, Grand-Est, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Occitanie, PACA.

The qualification will be issued by the regional prefect.

2 - Registering your company in the transporters' register

First, make sure you meet the following conditions:

• Your company is registered with the Trade and Companies Register (RCS)
• Establishment requirement: The registered office and premises of your company are located in France. The management of the company is established in the region where the company operates. The company owns the vehicles used.
• Professional integrity, usually by completing a declaration on honour (Cerfa no. 114111*01). You have not committed any serious traffic offences. You are not prohibited from carrying out a commercial or industrial profession.
• Financial capacity. This is an unused sum of money to cover the risks of the vehicle fleet. This sum can be partly made up of bank guarantees. How is the amount of financial capacity calculated? Light vehicles (MAW < 3.5t): €1,800 for the first vehicle + €900 for each additional vehicle. Heavy vehicles (MAW > 3.5t): €9,000 for the first vehicle and €5,000 for each additional vehicle.

Wondering which legal status to choose for your company?

• If you want to start your business alone, it is best to choose SASU or EURL.
• If you have several partners, we recommend SAS or SARL.

The self-employed status is rarely profitable for transporters due to the many expenses and non-deductible costs related to the transport activity.

Registration will take place in 3 steps:

1. A pre-registration with the first documents and the Cerfa form no. 114111*01. The DREAL or DRIEA will then provide you with a certificate indicating that your company can be registered with the Trade and Companies Register (RCS).
2. The registration of your company with the RCS.
3. The final registration of your company with the DREAL with the last documents provided by the RCS.

Documents to be provided to the DRIEA (Ile-de-France) or DREAL (other regions):

• Your professional goods transport qualification.
• The declaration on honour (professional integrity).
• Bank guarantees (financial capacity) if required.
• The list of vehicles (registration number, type, GVW, etc.).
• The articles of association of your company.
• A Kbis extract less than 3 months old.

3 - Obtain your goods transport licence

Once you have obtained the goods transport qualification, you must have a goods transport licence. This licence is mandatory to be able to accept deliveries on Cocolis.

The licence will specify your exact activity (removals, industrial, etc.) and the vehicle used. It must be present in the vehicle and is generally valid for 10 years. You must apply for renewal at least 2 months before it expires.

The licence application is made using a form: Cerfa no. 16094*02 for companies or Cerfa no. 16093*02 for sole traders.

The forms should be sent to the DREAL (Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing) or to the DRIEA (Regional and Interdepartmental Directorate for Equipment and Planning) if your company is based in Ile-de-France.