Set Up a Transport Company

A regulated sector that requires rigorous preparation

Set Up a Transport Company

We are J. Jordens, and setting up a transport company in Belgium involves specific steps in addition to the standard company formation process. Here are the essential points to know before entering this regulated sector.

A sector subject to authorization

Unlike many commercial activities, road transport of goods or passengers is a regulated activity. To carry it out legally, your company must obtain a transport licence, commonly known as a Community licence for international freight transport, issued under strict conditions by the competent authorities.

The three conditions for accessing the profession

• Good repute: neither the director nor the designated transport manager must have been subject to certain serious convictions.
• Financial standing: the company must demonstrate sufficient equity, proportional to the number of vehicles operated.
• Professional competence: a transport manager holding a certificate of professional competence must be designated within the company.

Choosing the legal form

For a transport company, we most often recommend the SRL/BV, which offers limited liability to partners, an important point in a sector where operating risks (accidents, cargo disputes) can be significant. Your company's structure must also provide NACE codes precisely tailored to your activity: freight transport, passenger transport, or associated logistics.

The relationship between company formation and transport licence

It is important to understand that setting up your company and obtaining the transport licence are two distinct but related steps. Your company must first be incorporated and officially registered before you can file a licence application. We coordinate these two steps so your licence application can be filed as quickly as possible after formation.

Additional steps to anticipate

Beyond the licence, your transport company will also need to arrange appropriate professional liability insurance, register your vehicles, and possibly obtain specific authorizations depending on the type of goods transported (dangerous goods, perishable goods, etc.). We direct you to the right contacts for these additional aspects.

Our support for a demanding sector

Since 1948, our firm has supported entrepreneurs in a variety of sectors, including regulated ones. We make sure your transport company is incorporated with appropriate articles of association and correct activity codes, so the rest of your procedures proceed without administrative blockage.

Renewal and follow-up of your licence

Once obtained, the transport licence is not acquired indefinitely: it requires regular follow-up of the conditions for accessing the profession, particularly financial standing, which must remain demonstrated over time. We can also support you with this follow-up, to avoid any suspension or withdrawal of the licence due to an administrative oversight.

The role of insurance in this sector

A transport company must imperatively take out professional liability insurance appropriate to the exact nature of its activity (goods, passengers, specific materials). This point is closely linked to your licence application, as some insurers require your company to already be incorporated and registered before issuing an insurance certificate acceptable to the transport authorities.

The transport sector remains demanding on a regulatory level, but perfectly accessible with rigorous preparation from the formation of your company, in close coordination between the legal structure and your future licence application.

Would you like to set up your transport company in Brussels? Contact us for complete support, from formation to preparing your licence application.