SENT, RMPD, ADR in Poland: carrier obligations
An EU carrier driving through Poland between EU countries notifies the transport in SENT, Poland’s goods transport monitoring system. It uses form SENT300 when the goods are on the SENT list and the consignment exceeds the threshold. RMPD (Article 28b) usually does not apply.
Provisions checked at the source on 2 October 2026.
Check transport through Poland
When transport is subject to SENT
SENT is the Polish system for monitoring the road transport of goods (Act on the system for monitoring road and rail transport of goods and trade in heating fuels).
The obligation depends on the goods (CN code in the catalogue, quantity threshold, exemptions) and on the route. Three directions:
- Transport starts in Poland (domestic sale, intra-Community supply, export): Article 5 of the Act. Notified by the consignor (SENT100).
- Transport into Poland (intra-Community acquisition, import): Article 6 of the Act. Notified by the consignee (SENT200).
- Transport from an EU country through Poland to another country: Article 7 of the Act. Notified by the carrier (SENT300).
The customs transit procedure (e.g. T1) is something different from simply driving through Poland within the EU: a journey from Germany to Lithuania without a customs procedure requires a SENT300 notification when goods from the catalogue exceed the threshold. Transport from a third country through Poland without a transit procedure: check it in the tool, this case needs an assessment. SENT for transit through Poland
Whether a specific product is in the catalogue and whether the consignment exceeds the threshold is checked in the tool. The pages for goods show the threshold and exemptions from the provisions. SENT tool
Who notifies and what the carrier does
For transport from an EU country through Poland the carrier sends the SENT300 notification before entering Poland (Article 7(1), Article 9). SENT-GEO (geolocation of the carriage): ensure geolocation data are transmitted for the whole route in Poland: a locator (e.g. the e-TOLL PL app), ZSL (external location system) or an OBU (on-board unit) connected to SENT-GEO (Article 10a). The full list of carrier and driver steps: SENT for transit through Poland
For transport from or to Poland the consignor or the consignee notifies, and the carrier completes the notification and provides SENT-GEO. Details: SENT for carriers.
RMPD: the foreign carrier’s separate notification
It applies to a foreign entity performing international road haulage of goods under Article 28(1) and (1a) where a permit is required or international agreements exempt from holding it (Article 28b(1)), and a foreign entity performing cabotage haulage of goods under Article 29(1) (Article 28b(2)). A carrier from Poland or another EU country on a route between EU countries without a required permit: no.
Basis: Article 28b of the Road Transport Act (Journal of Laws 2025, item 1490). RMPD (foreign carrier’s notification) goes to the same register as SENT, but it concerns the carrier, not the goods: it applies regardless of the goods. The SENT tool asks whether the transport is within RMPD, but does not check the notification itself or the permit.
ADR: a separate obligation for dangerous goods
SENT and ADR are separate obligations: SENT concerns the notification of the transport of goods from the catalogue (threshold, direction, procedure), ADR concerns the transport of dangerous goods. A SENT notification does not replace the ADR requirements, and the other way round.
Whether a specific product is dangerous, and which UN number, class and packing group it has, follows from its classification, not from the CN code. You will find these data in the safety data sheet, section 14. The CN code comes from the invoice or the customs declaration: the two are different classifications.
This service does not decide the classification of the goods for you. It points to where to look for the UN number and class and shows how to combine them with the SENT data.
Penalties
Failing to notify exposes the consignor or consignee to a penalty of 46% of the gross value of the goods, not less than 20,000 PLN (Article 21(1) of the Act). A carrier on carriage through Poland faces 20,000 PLN for not notifying (Article 22(1)) and 10,000 PLN for missing SENT-GEO (Article 22(2a)); a driver faces a fine of 5,000 PLN to 7,500 PLN, by penalty notice (Article 32).
Within RMPD the carrier faces 12,000 PLN for carriage without an RMPD notification or with incomplete or incorrect data (Annex 3 item 3.2a).
Penalties for breaching ADR follow from separate provisions on the transport of dangerous goods, which this page does not cover. SENT penalty calculator
Frequently asked questions
Does a carrier from another EU country have to notify a transport to SENT or RMPD in Poland?
SENT: yes, when the goods are in the catalogue, the consignment exceeds the threshold, no exemption applies and the transport goes from an EU country through Poland to another country. The carrier then notifies (SENT300, Article 7 of the Act). RMPD: It applies to a foreign entity performing international road haulage of goods under Article 28(1) and (1a) where a permit is required or international agreements exempt from holding it (Article 28b(1)), and a foreign entity performing cabotage haulage of goods under Article 29(1) (Article 28b(2)). A carrier from Poland or another EU country on a route between EU countries without a required permit: no.
What is the difference between SENT and RMPD, and when does each apply?
SENT concerns goods from the catalogue and their transport (threshold, direction, procedure). RMPD concerns a foreign carrier within Article 28b of the Road Transport Act and applies regardless of the goods. Both notifications go to the same register, and one transport may require both.
Does transit through Poland require a notification?
Transport from an EU country through Poland to another country is notified by the carrier (SENT300, Article 7 of the Act) when the goods are in the SENT catalogue and the consignment exceeds the threshold. The customs transit procedure (e.g. T1) is something different from simply driving through Poland within the EU: a journey from Germany to Lithuania without a customs procedure requires a SENT300 notification when goods from the catalogue exceed the threshold. Transport from a third country through Poland without a transit procedure: check it in the tool, this case needs an assessment.
Does ADR exempt a carriage from SENT?
No. SENT and ADR are separate obligations: SENT concerns the notification of the transport of goods from the catalogue (threshold, direction, procedure), ADR concerns the transport of dangerous goods. A SENT notification does not replace the ADR requirements, and the other way round. SENT exemptions depend on the CN code, quantity, direction, customs procedure and other conditions of the provisions; the SENT catalogue used by the tool contains no exemption based on ADR compliance.
What penalties apply for a missing SENT or RMPD notification?
Failing to notify exposes the consignor or consignee to a penalty of 46% of the gross value of the goods, not less than 20,000 PLN (Article 21(1) of the Act). A carrier on carriage through Poland faces 20,000 PLN for not notifying (Article 22(1)) and 10,000 PLN for missing SENT-GEO (Article 22(2a)); a driver faces a fine of 5,000 PLN to 7,500 PLN, by penalty notice (Article 32). Within RMPD the carrier faces 12,000 PLN for carriage without an RMPD notification or with incomplete or incorrect data (Annex 3 item 3.2a).
Does this service show penalties for breaching ADR?
No. Penalties for breaching ADR follow from separate provisions on the transport of dangerous goods, which this page does not cover.
How does SENT-GEO work for transport through Poland?
Ensure geolocation data are transmitted for the whole route in Poland: a locator (e.g. the e-TOLL PL app), ZSL (external location system) or an OBU (on-board unit) connected to SENT-GEO (Article 10a). Switch on the locator when entering Poland (Article 10b(1)(b)). Switch off the locator only after delivery (last unloading in Poland) or after the carriage ends in Poland (Article 10b(2)). If the locator fails for more than an hour, stop at the nearest car park. Continue only after repair, reloading, a new locator, or official seals or an escort (Article 10c).
What must a driver show at a roadside check in Poland?
For transport covered by SENT the driver must have the notification reference number when setting off (Article 10(3) and (4)). For transport within RMPD, failing to show the reference number is a separate violation by the driver: 1,500 PLN (Annex 1 item 2a). The documents required by ADR depend on the classification of the goods and follow from the ADR provisions.
Related
This is information with its legal basis, not legal advice. The result depends on the data you provide: CN code, quantity, route, transaction and procedure. The provisions are binding. We show the position of the authority (KAS) as guidance.