Transports Internationaux Routiers is an international customs convention that speeds up cross-border freight movement. Trucks operating under this system are sealed at their origin and carry a TIR Carnet document, which acts as a financial guarantee for customs duties. Because the load is pre-cleared and physically secured, border officials wave the truck through without opening the trailer or collecting taxes until it reaches its final destination.
Make sure the TIR plates are flipped open and visible on the trailer before we hit the border crossing.
If you see a blue plate with white TIR letters on a truck in Europe or Asia, it means the trailer is customs-sealed and cannot be opened by regular border guards without breaking the international chain of custody.
Related terms
CMR
The Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road is a UN treaty standardizing freight liability.
ADR
The European treaty governing the cross-border transport of hazardous materials by road.
USMCA
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a free trade treaty governing North American cross-border freight.