Uzbekistan Transport Ministry Clarifies Freight Permit Rules

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan's Ministry of Transport has issued an official clarification on the allocation of foreign and multilateral international road transport permits, as well as the operation of its rating system and electronic services. The statement follows discussions and criticism across social media and news outlets.

Permit distribution is governed by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 114, adopted on 25 March 2026. Under the framework, carriers submit applications and reserve permits electronically.

The ministry emphasized that access to high-demand permits is determined by a carrier's rating, which is calculated automatically by the information system based on criteria set out in the legislation. Officials cannot manually increase or lower a carrier's rating or adjust it upon individual request.

According to the ministry, the rating system is designed to distribute a limited volume of permits using uniform criteria based on actual performance metrics, rather than to displace small or individual transport companies from the market.

Addressing allegations regarding a "black market" for permits, the ministry noted that Resolution No. 114 sets restrictions and penalties for transferring, selling, or misusing permit forms. The ministry urged individuals with specific information about illegal sales, transfers, or official misconduct to submit evidence for investigation.

The agency also outlined the ongoing rollout of the E-Permit digital exchange platform. Electronic permit exchanges are currently operational with seven nations: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

Work is underway to establish electronic permit exchanges with Russia and Belarus, with full system implementation targeted before the end of 2026.

The ministry noted that transitioning to E-Permit requires bilateral coordination, including intergovernmental agreements, IT system integration, electronic data testing, and mutual recognition of digital permits. Consequently, the continued use of paper permits for Russia does not indicate a suspension of digitalization efforts.

Regarding the E-Permit process for routes involving China, the ministry addressed instances where used permits continue to show as "unused" in the system, preventing vehicles from receiving new permits.

Under established procedures, drivers must present transport documentation to transport control inspectors after completing customs clearance. Inspectors verify the document and update the permit status to "used" in the information system.

In practice, some drivers leave border zones after customs clearance without presenting their documents to the inspector. As a result, the system does not receive usage verification and automatically blocks the issuance of subsequent permits for the vehicle involved.

The ministry stated that this mechanism prevents the concurrent issuance of multiple active permits for a single vehicle, ensuring proper tracking and intended usage. Transport operators and drivers were urged to complete usage verification procedures on time.

The ministry reiterated its commitment to transparency, noting that it publishes quarterly statistical data detailing the number of foreign and multilateral permits received, allocated, and used.

Carriers can also inspect available permit balances by country and permit type via the automated "E-Avtoruxsatnoma" system, which displays real-time data on permits reserved by other transport operators.

According to the ministry, electronic booking, application processing, and digital tracking aim to minimize human error and enhance transparency in permit distribution.