Government proposes legislative amendments to improve operating conditions for transport sector

On 5 March 2026, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal to amend the Act on Transport Services, Driving Licence Act, Act on the Organisation of Driver Examinations and Act on the Enforcement of a Fine.

The proposal aims to improve the operating conditions in the transport sector by clarifying EU rules on road cabotage, making it easier to comply with and enforce these rules. The legislative amendments would also promote the use of vehicles that run on alternative fuels and have a maximum total mass of up to 4,250 kg.

“Wheeled transport is part of Finland’s critical infrastructure and must run smoothly around the clock. With the planned changes, we can improve conditions across the transport sector and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, while still ensuring safety. These are targeted measures that work to the benefit of the sector,” says Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne.

Amendments to cabotage rules and driving licence categories

The government proposal would amend the provisions on road cabotage in the Act on Transport Services and the sanctions for non-compliance. Cabotage means the right of a transport company established in one EEA state to carry out domestic transport operations in another EEA state. The aim is to clarify national regulation so that the rules and their enforcement are clear in both goods transport and bus transport.

The proposal would also amend the provisions on driving licence categories in the Driving Licence Act to allow the operation of heavier vehicles running on alternative fuels. With this amendment, a category B driving licence for a passenger car would entitle the holder to drive a vehicle weighing up to 4,250 kg, provided that the vehicle runs on an alternative fuel and the licence has been held for at least two years. The first stage would introduce a temporary exemption applicable to domestic goods transport, excluding Åland, when carried out under a goods transport licence issued by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom. The temporary provision allowing this would be in force until 25 November 2027.

In the second stage, Finland would implement the exemptions included in the new EU Driving Licence Directive for operating alternative-fuel vehicles in the B and BE categories. A BE licence entitles the holder to drive a combination consisting of a passenger car and a heavy trailer. These exemptions would apply across the European Union and would enter into force on 26 November 2027. The holder would need to have held the licence for at least two years, but there would no longer be any restrictions on the purpose of use: the vehicle could be operated by private individuals as well as by professional drivers.

To enable the use of driving‑time and rest‑time exemptions for electric and gas‑powered goods vehicles, the Government also proposes amending the Government Decree on the Issue of Tachograph Cards and Exemptions from Tachograph Use.

The proposal includes amendments to legislation on the enforcement of fines. These changes would allow the imposition of new penalty payments for breaches of cabotage rules and for failing to obtain a driver attestation. Requirements for driver examiners would also be amended to improve the availability of labour and driver examinations in the coming years.

What’s next?

Parliament will first hold a referral debate on the government proposal in a plenary session. The proposal will then proceed to a committee reading. Following the committee report, the debate will continue in a plenary session.

The proposed acts are scheduled to enter into force on 1 May 2026. However, most of the proposed amendments to the Driving Licence Act would not enter into force until 26 November 2027.

Inquiries:

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

Saara Louko, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 29 5342048, [email protected] (regulation on driving licences and professional qualifications)