ROMANIA ADOPTS NEW LEGISLATION

On June 24, 2026, the President of Romania promulgated Law No. 100/2026 regulating obligations regarding loading and unloading operations of goods, freight carriers and packaging, establishing for the first time a clear legal framework defining the responsibilities of all parties involved in commercial road transport (LEGE No. 100 of June 24, 2026 – iLegis).
The adoption of this law places Romania among the growing number of European countries that clearly distinguish activities related to driving a vehicle from duties related to cargo handling, reflecting the growing attention to occupational safety, legal certainty and operational efficiency throughout the logistics chain.
Why was this law needed?
For many years, professional truck drivers in Romania have often been obliged – either by contract or in practice – to perform loading and unloading operations, even if this activity often goes beyond their professional duties.
This situation has caused several operational and safety problems:
increased risks to health and safety;
longer waiting and driving times;
disputes over liability for damage to cargo;
discrepancies between contractual obligations and operational practices;
reduced efficiency of the entire logistics chain.
The new legislation aims to eliminate these uncertainties by clearly dividing responsibilities between the transport operator, the consignor, the consignee and intermediaries.
Main provisions of the new Romanian law
Article 1 – This law aims to regulate the obligations relating to the performance of loading and unloading operations with goods, supports or packaging transported by road for remuneration by means of vehicles with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 12.5 tons, as well as to establish the liability of carriers, suppliers, beneficiaries and road transport intermediaries with respect to this activity.
Article 2
(1) Drivers of goods road transport vehicles transported for remuneration or reward with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 12.5 tons may not be forced by the consignee, the supplier of the goods, intermediaries or their representatives to perform operations of unloading or loading of goods, supports or packaging.
(2) As an exception to paragraph (1), drivers of goods vehicles carrying goods for hire or reward, with a maximum permissible mass exceeding 12.5 tonnes, may perform unloading operations only in the case of specialized transport, where the nature of the transport so requires and the employment contracts or supplementary documents thereto concluded with their employer provide for such a possibility.
Among its key provisions:
Professional drivers may not be required to perform loading and unloading operations, except in limited cases expressly provided for by law.
Any contractual provision imposing such obligations on drivers that is contrary to the law shall be deemed invalid.
The law clearly distinguishes the duties of:
transport operators;
consignors (suppliers);
recipients (beneficiaries);
freight forwarders.
It is not considered an infringement if the driver expressly consents in writing to perform loading and unloading operations in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 319/2006 on Safety and Health at Work, as amended.
In case of non-compliance, administrative sanctions are applied, with fines ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 Romanian lei, depending on the party responsible. Compliance is monitored by the Romanian Labor 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 goal of improving the working conditions of professional drivers, while contributing to greater legal certainty throughout the transport chain.
By separating the driver's duties from the cargo handling activity, the law is expected to:
improve road and workplace safety;
reduce unnecessary delays at loading and unloading points;
clarify responsibilities between contracting parties;
promote a more efficient and professional logistics sector.
Implications for international operators
International carriers, freight forwarders and logistics companies operating in Romania should review their:
transport agreements;
general terms and conditions;
operating procedures;
warehouse and loading practices.
Companies should ensure that contractual provisions and operating instructions comply with the new Romanian legal requirements.