This article provides a concise, practical, and accurate overview of all key obligations: Posting declarations, payroll calculation, A1 certificates, working time, vehicle return rules, inspections, and minimum daily allowances in the transport sector.<\/p>\n
The purpose is to give transport company owners a clear understanding of their obligations and help them avoid the most common mistakes that lead to penalties within the EU.<\/p>\n
Drivers engaged in international transport fall under second-category labor, which provides enhanced labor protection, including a minimum of 25 working days of paid annual leave. As of 2025, the minimum monthly wage for a driver in Bulgaria is BGN 1,077. This amount serves as the basis for calculating remuneration, social security contributions, and required top-ups when drivers are posted to other EU Member States. These requirements, together with the rules of Mobility Package I, define the framework within which Bulgarian transport companies must organize work, posting, and driver remuneration.<\/p>\n
International drivers are entitled to minimum daily allowances of \u20ac35 per day for EU countries and \u20ac50 per day for non-EU countries. These amounts represent compensation for expenses and are not included in the calculation of the minimum remuneration under Mobility Package I rules. These are legally defined minimum amounts below which the employer may not pay daily allowances.<\/p>\n
The A1 certificate proves that the driver remains socially insured in Bulgaria while temporarily working in another EU Member State. It is mandatory for all international transport operations, regardless of whether Posting applies or whether the transport is bilateral. The certificate is issued by the \u041d\u0430\u0446\u0438\u043e\u043d\u0430\u043b\u043d\u0430\u0442\u0430 \u0430\u0433\u0435\u043d\u0446\u0438\u044f \u0437\u0430 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442\u0435 (\u041d\u0410\u041f)<\/a> and aims to prevent double social security contributions in different countries.<\/p>\n When is an A1 certificate required?<\/strong><\/p>\n Conditions for issuance<\/strong><\/p>\n The company must be able to demonstrate that:<\/p>\n Situations, rules, and comments on business impact<\/em><\/p>\n European Mobility Package I fundamentally changed the rules governing international drivers. If you are a Bulgarian transport company, it is essential to understand the core requirements in order to avoid fines, blocked payments, and increased inspection risk across the EU.<\/p>\n Below you will find the most important points, presented in a concise format and supported by real-life scenarios.<\/p>\n When Is a Posting Declaration Submitted?<\/strong><\/p>\n Posting applies when a driver from a Member State (e.g. Bulgaria) performs loading or unloading operations in another EU Member State that is not the country where the company is established.<\/p>\n In such cases, the company is required to submit a Posting declaration before the start of the transport operation via the official EU portal: Posting is required, for example, when a Bulgarian company carries out:<\/p>\n When Posting is NOT required?<\/strong><\/p>\n Transit Example situation<\/strong><\/p>\n A Bulgarian company transports goods from Slovenia to Austria. The company must ensure that for every working hour spent in the host country, the driver receives no less than the applicable local minimum rate. Each EU Member State applies its own:<\/p>\n It is the employer\u2019s responsibility to ensure that the driver receives at least the remuneration that a local worker would receive for the same work.<\/p>\n The posting period depends on the moment of entry into the country, loading, unloading, and exit.<\/p>\n Situation 1: Driver enters a country to unload goods<\/strong><\/p>\n Posting starts from the moment the driver enters the country. It ends upon unloading, provided no new load is taken. If another load is taken, posting continues until the driver exits the territory.<\/p>\n Situation 2: Transit only<\/strong><\/p>\n A driver who only passes through a country without loading or unloading is NOT considered posted.<\/p>\n Transport from country A to country C Situation 3: Entry with an empty vehicle to load goods<\/strong><\/p>\n Posting starts from the moment the driver begins traveling to the loading location.<\/p>\n How is the minimum rate surcharge calculated? \u2013 Practical Model<\/strong><\/p>\n Step 1: Determine the working hours in the respective country<\/strong><\/p>\n Based on: tachograph data, GPS routes, CMR documents, border records.<\/p>\n Example<\/em>: The driver spent 6 hours in Austria with cargo \u2192 6 hours are subject to Austrian wage rules.<\/p>\n Step 2: Check the minimum rate in the host country<\/strong><\/p>\n Truck Mobility Info is not an official government source. The information may be useful, but should be verified:<\/p>\n https:\/\/truckmobility-info.com\/the-minimum-wage-in-eu-countries\/<\/a><\/p>\n Step 3: Compare with the actual remuneration paid in Bulgaria<\/strong><\/p>\n Include:<\/p>\n Daily allowances (food, travel, accommodation) are NOT included as part of the \u201csalary\u201d for this comparison.<\/p>\n If the paid remuneration is lower, the difference must be paid.<\/p>\n Step 4: Example calculation (simplified)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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Supports Transport Companies in the Correct Application of Mobility Package I<\/h2>\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.postingdeclaration.eu\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\nBilateral operations Bulgaria \u21c4 another country
\nBilateral operations plus 1 or 2 additional loading or unloading operations
\n(applicable only with smart tachograph G2V2)<\/p>\n
\nLoading and unloading take place in two foreign countries.
\nPosting is required in Slovenia and Austria.<\/p>\nHow Is Remuneration Calculated During Posting?<\/h2>\n
\nDaily allowances are not recognized as part of the salary for the purpose of these checks.<\/p>\n\n
\npassing through country B (without loading or unloading)
\nThe driver is NOT considered posted in country B.<\/p>\n\n