Consultation: Legislation to improve operating conditions for transport sector

The Ministry of Transport and Communications requests comments on the draft government proposal that would amend the Act on Transport Services and certain other acts. The draft proposal aims to improve the operating conditions of the transport sector. Comments may be submitted until 19 November 2025.

The aim of the draft government proposal is to lay down further provisions under to the EU regulatory framework concerning cabotage in road transport to make it easier to comply with and supervise the rules. In addition, the legislative amendments would promote the use of vehicles powered by alternative fuels with a total mass not exceeding 4,250 kg.

In spring 2025, the Ministry carried out an extensive assessment of the regulatory measures affecting the transport sector that could improve the operating conditions of the sector.

Amendments to regulation concerning cabotage and driving licence categories

The draft government proposal would amend the regulation concerning cabotage in road transport in the Act on Transport Services and the sanctions for non-compliance with it. Cabotage means transport operations within a certain country by a vehicle owned by a company established in another country. The aim is to specify the national regulation in such a way that compliance with the regulations is clear and supervision is effective.

The proposal would amend the provisions on driving licence categories in the Driving Licence Act with regard to operating heavier vehicles powered by alternative fuels. With this amendment, a driving licence for a passenger car would entitle to drive a vehicle weighing at most 4,250 kg, provided that the vehicle is powered by an alternative fuel and a category B driving licence has been valid for at least two years. A similar change would be made to the BE driving licence category with regard to towing vehicles powered by alternative fuels. To implement the driving time and rest period exemptions concerning such vehicles, the Government Decree on the issue of tachograph cards and exemptions concerning the use of tachographs would also be amended.

In addition, the proposal would amend the requirements concerning driving test examiners and the acts on the enforcement of fines. The amendments would improve the availability of labour and driving examinations in the next few years. In addition, the amendments would make it possible to impose new penalty payments.

What’s next?

Comments on the draft government proposal may be submitted at lausuntopalvelu.fi. The consultation period ends on 19 November 2025. The feedback from the consultation will be taken into account as the work on the acts continues at the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

The project will run until June 2026. The entry into force of the amendments will depend on the date of adoption of the new Driving Licence Directive.

Inquiries:

Veli-Matti Syrjänen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 342 124, [email protected]

Saara Louko, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 342 048, [email protected] (regulation on driving licences)