TIR Convention

Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR, German: International road freight transport ) is a customs transit procedure, temporary importation or transit of goods. The associated customs document is always a TIR carnet.

The abbreviation is placed on signs on trucks that transport goods under the TIR procedure. The load compartments in vehicles will be sealed. Thus the move, no opening is possible without this would be noticed during an inspection. By this Carnet administrative expenses in customs control is minimized because only the start and destination country are involved in the customs clearance. Thus, the processing of transit traffic much easier.

Exhibits TIR Carnets by the Geneva-based International Road Transport Union (IRU - International Road Transport Union / Union Internationale des Transports Routiers ).

Legal basis of the TIR procedure is the Convention on the International Transport of Goods under cover of TIR of 14 November 1975 with currently 68 Contracting States, including the Member States of the European Union. In the practical implementation is the shipping with the TIR procedure in only 56 countries guaranteeing it with the appropriate national associations (as of 31 October 2007).

The Customs Convention on the ATA Carnet for the Temporary Admission of Goods (ATA Convention) were the forerunners of the TIR Convention. An ATA Carnet is a carnet for the temporary admission of goods.