Complete Guide: Create a Road Freight Transport Company in Morocco
The road freight transport sector is a pillar of the Moroccan economy, handling approximately 75% of goods flows and employing nearly 170,000 people. Discover all the steps and conditions to create your transport company in compliance with Law No. 16-99.
The road freight transport sector is a pillar of the Moroccan economy, handling about 75% of goods flows (excluding phosphates) and employing nearly 170,000 people. Since the reform of Law No. 16-99, access to this profession is liberalised but strictly regulated to ensure operator professionalism.
1. General Access Conditions
To operate a freight transport service for third parties using vehicles exceeding a GVWR of 3.5 tonnes, any applicant must meet the following criteria:
Nationality
Moroccan national or citizen of a state with a free trade agreement with Morocco.
Age
At least 20 years old at the time of application submission.
Legal Form
Must be a company under Moroccan law (SARL, SAS, SA).
2. The Three Pillars of Professionalism
Registration in the special professional register is conditioned by three major requirements:
A. Professional Integrity
This condition is satisfied by the company's legal manager. It is lost in case of serious criminal convictions or prohibition from exercising a commercial or industrial profession (drug trafficking, smuggling, illegal immigration).
B. Financial Capacity
Two-axle vehicles
15,000 MAD per two-axle vehicle put into service.
Multi-axle vehicles
60,000 MAD for the first multi-axle vehicle, then 30,000 MAD per additional vehicle.
Broker
For transport broker activity, the minimum is 500,000 MAD financial capacity.
C. Professional Aptitude
Degree
Higher education degree (Bachelor or DEUG) or technician/specialised technician diploma in transport or management.
Training
Baccalaureate plus 3-month training in a vocational training establishment approved by the Ministry of Transport.
Experience
Certificate proving 3 years of experience in a position of responsibility within a transport administration or company.
3. Registration Procedure
Required Documents
- Copy of ID and original anthropometric sheet
- Company statutes and manager appointment minutes
- Patent and Trade Register certificates
- Financial capacity proof (bank certificate or balance sheet extract)
- Professional aptitude proof (degrees, training certificates or experience certificate)
- Certificate of no criminal record
4. Onboard Documents and Operational Obligations
Operating Permit
Issued for each motor vehicle put into service. Nominative and non-transferable without prefectoral authorisation.
Permit Card
Linked to the technical inspection certificate of the vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer.
Freight Manifest
Mandatory for any third-party transport, filled before each operation and signed by shipper, carrier and consignee.
Distinctive Markings
Vehicles must display a 40 cm red disc front and rear with registration number and city.
Summary Table
| Requirement | Details | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Financial capacity (2-axle) | Per vehicle | 15,000 MAD |
| Financial capacity (+2-axle) | First then subsequent | 60,000 / 30,000 MAD |
| Broker | Minimum | 500,000 MAD |
| Professional aptitude | Degree / Training / Experience | Proof required |
| Distinctive markings | 40 cm red disc | Front + rear |
Conclusion
Creating a transport company in Morocco requires strict administrative and financial rigour. With a sector representing 75% of goods flows and 170,000 jobs, road transport remains a promising sector in Morocco. Tangier, with its Tanger Med port and strategic position 14 km from Europe, is a privileged logistics hub.
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