NACE 49.4 – Freight Transport by Road and Removal Services | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 49.4 covers the commercial transport of goods by road as well as removal services. The group includes both general piece-goods and full-load transport and specialised transport (dangerous goods, heavy goods, refrigerated goods) and is among the most procurement-intensive service segments for public contracting authorities.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 49.4 cover?

NACE 49.4 (Freight transport by road and removal services) classifies undertakings that transport goods, materials and freight of all kinds by road — a service area continuously demanded by public bodies at every level.

Group 49.4 within Section H (Transportation and storage) and Division 49 (Land transport) is broken down into two classes:

Public contracting authorities in this segment are federal authorities, armed forces, construction administrations, hospitals, universities, municipalities and all bodies that regularly commission transport services for materials, files, equipment or special loads.

Public Tenders: Activities under NACE 49.4

Freight transport by road is one of the most sought-after service areas in public procurement — from framework agreements for authority relocations through to specialist heavy-goods transports for infrastructure projects.

Typical types of contract

• General freight transport: Regular delivery runs between authority locations, file and mail transport for administrations
• Material transport for construction projects: Logistics support for public construction projects, rubble removal, material deliveries
• Dangerous goods transport: Chemicals for sewage treatment plants, chemicals for municipal operations, fuel supply
• Removals and location changes: Authority relocations, school equipment, archive transports, IT equipment relocations
• Heavy and special transport: Transport services for large equipment, military vehicles, transformers and infrastructure components
• Refrigerated transport: Food supply for barracks, hospitals, canteens of public institutions

Thresholds and procedure types

Transport services are awarded as service contracts. The EU threshold for services is EUR 221,000 (for central government authorities in Austria and Germany, as of 2024/2025) or EUR 443,000 for other contracting authorities. Framework agreements with multiple lots are widespread in this area.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 49.4

The link between the NACE classification and specific tender searches is made via CPV codes, which must be specified in every EU contract notice.

Current tenders with these CPV codes can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) as well as on national procurement platforms such as the Austrian federal procurement portal or DTVP.

For whom is NACE 49.4 relevant in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Almost every public body is a potential contracting authority for road transport services. Particularly high volumes come from construction administrations (material transport), the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Bundeswehr (troop transports, logistics), hospitals (medical transports, refrigerated goods), universities and schools (equipment relocations) and municipal waste management operations.

Companies and bidders

Undertakings in the NACE 49.4 area wishing to participate in public tenders typically have to provide the following evidence:

• Authorisation: Valid evidence of road haulage operator status under EU Regulation 1071/2009 (occupational licensing)
• Technical capacity: Vehicle fleet with sufficient capacity and specialisation (refrigerated vehicles, tail lifts, ADR authorisation for dangerous goods)
• Economic capacity: Minimum turnover requirements, sufficient liability insurance (CMR insurance)
• Certifications: ISO 9001, where applicable GDP (Good Distribution Practice) for pharmaceutical transport, SQAS for chemicals transport

For larger framework agreements, several bidders are often awarded contracts in parallel (multi-bidder framework agreements). Splitting into lots by transport type or region also enables medium-sized hauliers to participate.

NACE 49.4 in context: Section H and Division 49

NACE 49.4 forms part of Division 49 (Land transport; transport via pipelines) within Section H (Transportation and storage).

• NACE H – Transportation and storage: Parent section covering all transport services
• NACE 49 – Land transport: Division covering road, rail and pipeline transport
• NACE 49.3 – Other passenger land transport: Bus lines, taxi services, passenger transport
• NACE 49.5 – Transport via pipeline: Pipeline transport of liquids and gases

Frequently asked questions about NACE 49.4 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 49.4?
All transport undertakings that predominantly carry goods on public roads — from small courier services to internationally active logistics groups. Removal companies, freight forwarders and heavy-load transport undertakings are also included.

How do I find current transport tenders from public contracting authorities?
EU-wide tenders are available on TED under CPV codes 60100000 et seq. Smaller contracts below the thresholds appear on national and regional procurement platforms.

Do I need a separate authorisation for each transport type?
Yes — for dangerous goods transport (ADR certificate), food transport (hygiene evidence), heavy-load transport (regulatory approvals) and pharmaceutical transport (GDP certification), specific authorisations are required and may be requested as eligibility criteria in the tender documents.

Are subcontractors allowed in road transport?
In principle, yes. However, the contracting authority may prescribe a minimum share of services to be performed by the bidder itself (e.g. 30–50 % of the transport service). When using subcontractors, their nomination in the bid is often mandatory.

Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.