French Light Goods Transport Competence Certificate (DREAL)

Any person designated as transport manager (gestionnaire de transport) within a company engaged in public road freight transport using exclusively vehicles with a PTAC at or below 3.5 tonnes must hold this certificate. This covers company founders, business purchasers and anyone responsible for the transport function. The obligation derives from Article L. 3211-1 of the Code des transports and the arrêté of 28 December 2011, which transpose Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009 into French law. Sole traders delivering their own goods with a single vehicle may qualify for an exemption under the own-account transport regime.

The 105-hour course is delivered by training organisations accredited by the regional DREAL. It covers eight subjects prescribed by the arrêté of 28 December 2011: civil and commercial law, employment law, tax law, commercial and financial management, access to the transport market, technical standards and transport operations, road safety, and environmental issues. Courses typically run over three to five weeks, in person or by distance learning. Lists of accredited providers are published on each regional DREAL website. Funding via OPCO Mobilités (the sectoral training fund), France Travail or the CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation — individual training account) may cover part or all of the cost.

DREAL examination registration fees range from €130 to €200 depending on the region. The 105-hour training course typically costs between €1,500 and €3,000 with an accredited provider. Funding from OPCO Mobilités, France Travail or the CPF may cover part or all of the training cost. When registering on the Registre des Transporteurs, you must also demonstrate minimum financial standing of €1,800 for the first vehicle and €900 for each additional vehicle, as required by Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009, as amended by Regulation (EU) No 2020/1055 of 15 July 2020. These reduced thresholds — lower than the standard heavy-goods figures — reflect France's application of the derogation for light vehicles (PTAC ≤ 3.5T) expressly permitted under that regulation.

Yes. The arrêté of 28 December 2011 (as amended) does not make prior training a condition of examination entry. Any candidate may register directly, subject to paying the registration fee and meeting the professional integrity requirements (honorabilité professionnelle). However, pass rates among candidates who have completed the 105-hour course are significantly higher. Note that a full examination exemption was available before 4 December 2011 for professionals with at least ten years' senior management experience in transport — this route is now closed in 2026.

The attestation de capacité professionnelle transport léger is issued on a permanent basis and does not require periodic renewal. However, professional integrity (honorabilité professionnelle) is subject to ongoing monitoring: any final criminal conviction for certain offences under Article L. 3211-4 of the Code des transports, or a serious administrative sanction, may lead to suspension or loss of that status, rendering the certificate inoperative. If the designated transport manager ceases activity, the company has six months to appoint a replacement.

Not directly. VTC (Voiture de Transport avec Chauffeur — private hire or chauffeur-driven vehicle) activity is governed by a separate regime under Articles L. 3120-1 et seq. of the Code des transports and loi No 2014-1104 of 1 October 2014, which requires a specific VTC professional card issued by the prefecture. However, any operator also wishing to carry out light goods delivery for third parties must separately hold the attestation de capacité transport léger — the two certificates address distinct obligations and neither substitutes for the other.