Transport in France: When is the declaration of drivers mandatory and how to avoid penalties
For transport companies carrying out international transport operations in France, incorrectly submitted or missing driver posting declarations can lead to significant financial consequences, as well as additional administrative inspections in future transport operations. Therefore, timely submission of declarations represents an important part of administrative compliance with the regulations of European Union Member States.
In accordance with the Law for Growth, Activity and Equal Economic Opportunities (Loi Macron), all drivers performing transport operations on the territory of France are subject to French labour and social regulations and the French collective agreement for the transport sector, in particular the rules relating to working time and minimum wage.
Rules for declaring the posting of drivers depend on the company’s place of establishment
Obligations arising from the EU Mobility Package and French national legislation clearly distinguish between:
- Driver posting declarations for vehicles over 3.5 t are submitted exclusively via the IMI system.
- For light commercial vehicles and vans, the declaration is currently submitted via the SIPSI portal, while from July 1, 2026, it will also become mandatory for these vehicles to be declared via the IMI system.
- Driver posting declarations are not required for bilateral transport and transit.
As of July 1, 2026, all transport companies operating light commercial vehicles and vans (2.5 t – 3.5 t) should prepare for changes in daily operations. From this date, at EU level, the full implementation of the rule begins that all commercial vehicles in the 2.5 t to 3.5 t category must be equipped with second-generation smart tachographs (Gen2/V2) if they perform international transport within the EU. In addition, the posting of drivers for these vehicles will have to be declared via the IMI system.
(Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Moldova, Ukraine, Turkey)
- Declarations are submitted via the national SIPSI portal
- Declarations are submitted depending on the vehicle category:
- For heavy vehicles above 3.5 t, the principle of individual posting applies, meaning that a driver posting declaration must be submitted for each individual non-bilateral transport operation.
- For vehicles below 3.5 t, a declaration is submitted for a specific period, up to a maximum of 6 months, and it is valid for multiple transport operations. Driver posting declarations are mandatory for all types of transport operations
- Transit is exempt from the declaration obligation.
Mandatory documentation during inspections
When entering France, the driver must be ready for inspection at all times. Upon request by the police or labour inspectors, the driver must present:
- Proof of driver posting (SIPSI/IMI declaration)
- Employment contract (with a mandatory translation into French),
- Certificate of social security coverage ,
- Details of the authorized representative on the territory of France.
The French sanctions system does not forgive
In a world where data from tachographs and borders are automatically compared, there is no longer any room for improvisation. For this reason, administrative compliance is becoming a key part of managing regulatory risks in international transport. If you have not submitted a driver posting declaration, the fine for the company can amount to up to €4,000 per driver, and if the violation is repeated within two years, penalties can reach €8,000 per driver.
Non-compliance with rules related to driver posting can lead to serious financial consequences, but with timely preparation and proper administration, risks can be fully controlled.
How does EXPO protect your business?
Managing regulatory risks in international transport requires continuous monitoring of legal changes. For all carriers operating transport activities on the territory of France, the EXPO team provides full support in the field of EU transport compliance and ensures for our clients:
– Verification of whether driver posting obligations apply
– Preparation and submission of driver posting declarations via the SIPSI/IMI portals
– Ensuring declarations for drivers before entering France
– Expert support in case of inspections and continuous monitoring of regulatory obligations
Our goal is to ensure that your operations in the EU are fully compliant – without the risk of penalties and transport disruptions!