USER – Freight Forwarders Association of Romania and Welbeing Ambassador informs about an important legislative development in Romania that is expected to have a significant impact on the road freight transport and logistics sector.
On 24 June 2026, the President of Romania promulgated Law No. 100/2026 on the regulation of obligations regarding loading and unloading operations of goods, load carriers and packaging, establishing, for the first time, a clear legal framework defining the responsibilities of all parties involved in commercial road transport (LEGE nr. 100 din 24 iunie 2026 – iLegis).
The adoption of this law places Romania among the growing number of European countries that clearly distinguish driving activities from cargo handling responsibilities, reflecting an increasing focus on occupational safety, legal certainty and operational efficiency throughout the logistics chain.
Iuliana Badea, Secretary General of USER and Wellbeing Ambassador in Romania said “We also believe that this legislation is closely aligned with ESPORG’s ongoing initiatives to improve the wellbeing, safety and working conditions of professional truck drivers across Europe. By ensuring that drivers are no longer expected to perform loading and unloading activities beyond their primary role, the new Romanian legislation supports the broader European objective of protecting drivers’ health, reducing occupational risks and promoting a more sustainable and attractive road transport profession. We appreciate ESPORG’s continued leadership in this important area and see this legislative development as a practical contribution to the shared vision of improving drivers’ wellbeing throughout the logistics sector.”
Why was this law needed?
For many years, professional truck drivers in Romania were frequently required – either contractually or in practice – to carry out loading and unloading operations, even though these activities often fall outside their professional responsibilities.
This situation generated several operational and safety concerns:
- increased occupational health and safety risks;
- longer waiting and driving times;
- disputes regarding liability for damaged cargo;
- inconsistencies between contractual obligations and operational practice;
- reduced efficiency throughout the logistics chain.
The new legislation aims to eliminate these uncertainties by clearly allocating responsibilities between the transport operator, consignor, consignee and intermediaries.
Main provisions of the new Romanian law
Article 1 – This law aims to regulate the obligations regarding the carrying out of loading and unloading activities of goods, supports or packaging moved in road transport for a fee with vehicles with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 12.5 tons, as well as establishing the responsibilities of carriers, suppliers, beneficiaries and intermediaries of road transport with regard to these activities.
Article 2
(1) Drivers of road freight transport vehicles for hire or reward with vehicles having a maximum authorised mass exceeding 12.5 tonnes may not be compelled by the transport beneficiary, the supplier of the goods, intermediaries or their representatives to carry out operations of unloading or loading of goods, supports or packaging.
(2) By way of exception to paragraph (1), drivers of road freight transport vehicles for hire or reward with vehicles having a maximum authorised mass exceeding 12.5 tonnes may carry out operations of unloading of goods, exclusively in the case of specialised transport, when the nature of the transport requires this, and the employment contracts or additional documents thereto, concluded with their own employer, provide for this possibility.
Among its key provisions:
- Professional drivers cannot be required to perform loading or unloading operations, except in the limited situations expressly provided by law.
- Any contractual clause imposing such obligations on drivers, contrary to the law, is considered null and void.
- The law clearly distinguishes the responsibilities of:
- transport operators;
- consignors (suppliers);
- consignees (beneficiaries);
- freight forwarding intermediaries.
- It does not constitute a contravention if the driver expresses his express consent, in writing, to carry out loading or unloading operations, in compliance with the provisions of the Law on Safety and Health at Work no. 319/2006, with subsequent amendments and completions.
- Administrative sanctions apply in case of non-compliance, with fines ranging from RON 5,000 to RON 20,000, depending on the party responsible. Enforcement is carried out by the Romanian Labour Inspectorate and the Romanian State Inspectorate for Road Transport (ISCTR).
A step towards safer and more professional logistics
The new legislation aligns Romania with the broader European objective of improving working conditions for professional drivers while promoting greater legal certainty across the transport chain.
By separating driving responsibilities from cargo handling activities, the law is expected to:
- improve road and workplace safety;
- reduce unnecessary delays at loading and unloading points;
- clarify liability among contractual parties;
- contribute to a more efficient and professional logistics sector.
Implications for international operators
International carriers, freight forwarders and logistics providers operating in Romania should review their:
- transport agreements;
- general terms and conditions;
- operational procedures;
- warehouse and loading site practices.
Companies should ensure that contractual provisions and operational instructions comply with the new Romanian legal requirements.
Source: USER, Freight Forwarders Association of Romania
