Ukraine has simplified technical inspections for international carriers: what will change for businesses
27 April 22:48
Ukraine has simplified technical inspections for international freight carriers operating under ECMT permits. Now, instead of two separate inspections, carriers will only need to undergo a single technical inspection procedure, which simultaneously confirms compliance with both Ukrainian and European requirements. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
According to him, the government adopted the relevant decision at the initiative of the Ministry of Development.
Who is affected by the new rules
The simplification applies to international freight carriers operating under permits issued by the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT).
Such permits allow for the transport of goods between more than 40 countries.
Ukraine is one of the most active countries in using this mechanism for international road transport.
What exactly has changed
Previously, carriers had to undergo two separate inspections: one to confirm compliance with Ukrainian requirements, and the other for international transport under ECMT rules.
Now, there is only one technical inspection procedure.
“Previously, carriers underwent two separate inspections. Following this government decision, initiated by the Ministry of Development, there is now only one technical inspection procedure, which simultaneously confirms compliance with both Ukrainian and international requirements,” explained Oleksiy Kuleba.
According to Kuleba, Ukrainian businesses have spent approximately 300 million hryvnias on duplicative technical inspection procedures in recent years.
This means that carriers not only lost money but also spent extra time undergoing inspections that partially duplicated one another.
“In recent years, businesses have spent about 300 million hryvnias on duplicative procedures,” the minister said.
The technical inspection market will be opened to all accredited entities
Another important change is the opening of the technical inspection market.
Now, any accredited entity that conducts such inspections will be able to issue a certificate. Previously, only one state-owned enterprise issued certificates.
This creates a competitive environment, which will help reduce the cost of services and improve their quality.
For carriers, this could mean more choice, shorter lines, and potentially faster completion of necessary procedures.
In addition to reducing bureaucracy, Ukraine plans to adopt European approaches to vehicle technical inspections.
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The document also implements the provisions of Directive 2014/45/EU, specifically introducing uniform approaches to assessing the technical condition of vehicles, classifying defects (minor, major, dangerous), and establishing clear rules for their operation.
Thus, the technical inspection system in Ukraine becomes compatible with the European one.
Importantly, the ECMT certificate will now be issued directly based on the results of the technical inspection, and all information will be entered into a single state database. This increases transparency, simplifies oversight, and minimizes opportunities for abuse.
These changes are intended to bring Ukrainian procedures closer to EU standards and simplify operations for companies engaged in international transport.
Why this matters for carriers
For international road carriers, technical inspections are not a formality but a condition for market access. Without the appropriate documents, a truck cannot operate under ECMT permits.
Simplifying the procedure should reduce the bureaucratic burden on businesses, cut costs, and make the rules clearer.
This is particularly important given that Ukrainian logistics remain critical for exports, imports, and integration with European markets.
What are ECMT permits
ECMT permits are international permits that authorize freight carriers to transport goods between member countries of the system.
They are used for road transport in Europe and beyond.
As a reminder, over 21,000 trucks applied for the latest allocation of ECMT permits. To do so, they all had to undergo the ECMT technical inspection procedure, which, in effect, duplicated existing processes.
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