From January 1, 2026, HSE cards will be required for companies that transport goods by road. The HSE card will show who is working in the goods transport industry. The aim is to contribute to better working conditions and make it easier to distinguish between reputable and untrustworthy operators.
This requirement is part of a larger effort to ensure orderly working conditions and strengthen the rights of drivers in the freight transport industry. Companies can order HSE cards for their employees from December 1, 2025.
What does the HSE card requirement entail?
The HSE card requirement applies to drivers and assistants who transport other people's goods by car and covers transport by vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 tons for fossil fuel cars and 4.25 tons for electric cars.
There is no lower weight limit, so passenger cars are also covered by the scheme. This means that the scheme covers a wide range of vehicles used for goods transport.
Also read: What is an HSE card?
Who needs an HSE card?
The new requirement applies to both companies with employed drivers and sole proprietorships where the owner himself performs transport assignments. Assistants who are in the vehicle and perform work are also covered, for example, porters. This means that even small operators and self-employed people must comply with the new requirements.
However, there are important exceptions:
- There is no requirement for an HSE card for office employees.
- There is no requirement for an HSE card for drivers or assistants who transport the company's own goods
- If you transport goods for voluntary organizations, you do not need an HSE card
- Bicycle couriers are not covered by the regulations
Practical requirements and employer responsibility
To be issued with an HSE card, the company must be registered in the Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities and comply with any registration requirements for the Register of Business Enterprises, the VAT Register and the Register of Employees and Employers.
In addition, the company must document valid residence permits for employees from countries outside the EEA and have fulfilled its duty to provide information to the Central Tax Office for Foreign Affairs. If the company hires drivers or assistants from a staffing agency, the staffing agency must ensure that they have HSE cards.
Also read: Employee relocation—Norwegian residence permit requirements
Part of a larger regulatory framework
The HSE card requirements for this industry do not stand alone.
From June 1, 2025, van drivers must be paid the minimum wage, which applies to employees who transport goods by road in vehicles with a maximum authorized weight of over 2.5 tons. From January 1, 2026, new requirements for a national van license will also apply to companies that transport goods for remuneration by van in Norway. This applies to vehicles with a permitted total weight between 2.5 and 3.5 tons.
Also read: Minimum wage rates in Norway
Ensure compliance with the regulations in time
With only weeks left until the deadline, it is important that companies in the freight transport industry act now.
At Aider Legal, we have extensive experience in assisting transport companies through regulatory changes. We can help you identify which employees need HSE cards, ensure that your company meets all registration requirements, and establish procedures for ongoing compliance with the regulations.
