--- title: "Incoterms for road freight: EXW, FCA, DAP | RNJ Transport" description: "Seven Incoterms 2020 rules fit road freight. See who books the truck, where the risk passes and who loads and clears customs under EXW, FCA, DAP and DDP." url: https://rnjtransport.lt/en/guides/incoterms-for-road-freight/ language: en --- # Incoterms 2020 for road freight Written by - [Nerijus Daujotas](https://rnjtransport.lt/en/about/) Director, RNJ Transport - Vytas Dargis Consultant Updated 19 October 2026 7 min read RNJ Transport books trucks under the seven Incoterms® 2020 rules that fit road freight: EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU and DDP. Each rule says who books and pays the truck, where the risk passes and who clears customs. We work for the side that books the truck. Incoterms do not set the price, the payment or ownership. - Incoterms 2020 is the current edition of the ICC rules. ICC plans to publish Incoterms 2030 in late 2029. - Seven Incoterms rules fit road freight: EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU and DDP. - FOB, CFR, CIF and FAS are rules for sea and inland waterway transport. Do not use them for a truck. - Under EXW and FCA, the buyer books the truck. Under CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU and DDP, the seller books it. - Inside the EU, EU goods need no customs clearance. Loads between the EU and Norway need it. Transport team, Klaipėda A person in our Klaipėda office answers your call. [Get a price](https://rnjtransport.lt/en/guides/incoterms-for-road-freight/#callback) [ +370 698 38573 ](tel:+37069838573) [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/37069838573) Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00, Lithuanian time [Free toolsIncoterms 2020 chartWho loads, books the truck, insures and clears customs under each of the seven Incoterms rules for trucks.Open the tool](https://rnjtransport.lt/en/tools/incoterms-2020-chart/) ## What Incoterms cover and what they do not Incoterms are 11 trade rules from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The buyer and the seller write one rule into the sales contract. The rule says who books and pays the transport. It also says where the risk passes and who clears customs. Incoterms do not decide the price, the payment or who owns the goods. Your sales contract must settle these points. - The price and the payment terms - When the buyer becomes the owner, often at payment - The quality of the goods - The transport contract with the carrier - The law that applies and how to settle a dispute ## Incoterms 2020 and the next edition Incoterms 2020 is the current edition of the rules. ICC is preparing a new edition, Incoterms 2030, and plans to publish it in late 2029\. Until then, Incoterms 2020 remains the current set of rules. Write the edition into your contract, so both sides read the same text. This guide is general information, not legal advice. For a large or unusual contract, ask a lawyer. ## Seven Incoterms rules for road freight Seven of the 11 Incoterms rules work for any mode of transport, including a truck. These are EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU and DDP. Under EXW and FCA, the buyer books and pays the main transport. Under the other five rules, the seller does. RNJ Transport works for the side that books the truck. Under CPT and CIP, the seller pays the truck, but the risk passes at loading. Under DAP, DPU and DDP, the risk stays with the seller until the truck arrives. __The seven rules that fit road freight__ | Rule | Full name | In short | | ---- | ------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | EXW | Ex Works | The buyer collects the goods at the seller’s place. | | FCA | Free Carrier | The seller hands the goods to the buyer’s carrier. | | CPT | Carriage Paid To | The seller pays the transport. The buyer carries the risk on the road. | | CIP | Carriage and Insurance Paid To | Same as CPT. The seller also buys cargo insurance for the buyer. | | DAP | Delivered at Place | The seller delivers to the named place. The buyer unloads. | | DPU | Delivered at Place Unloaded | The seller delivers and unloads at the named place. | | DDP | Delivered Duty Paid | Same as DAP. The seller also clears the goods for import. | ## Why FOB, CFR, CIF and FAS do not fit a truck FOB, CFR, CIF and FAS are Incoterms rules for sea and inland waterway transport only. Under these rules, delivery happens at a ship: alongside it or on board. A truck has no such point. For a truck, use FCA in place of FOB. Use CPT or CIP in place of CFR or CIF. A ferry crossing does not change this. On loads between Lithuania and Sweden, the trailer crosses the sea by ferry. The load still goes from door to door, so DAP or another rule for any mode fits. ## Loading and unloading under EXW, FCA, DAP and DPU Incoterms also decide who loads and unloads the truck. Under EXW, the seller only makes the goods available, not loaded. The buyer must load them. Under FCA at the seller’s premises, the seller loads the truck. Under DAP and DDP, the buyer unloads at the destination. Under DPU, the seller unloads. Usually, the seller’s staff load the truck at the warehouse. Under EXW, the risk is already with the buyer during that loading. FCA fits daily practice better, because the risk passes after loading. ICC says EXW suits domestic sales and suggests FCA for export. __Loading, unloading and risk__ | Rule | Loads the truck | Unloads the truck | Risk passes to the buyer | | ---------------------------- | --------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------- | | EXW | Buyer | Buyer | At the seller’s place, before loading | | FCA at the seller’s premises | Seller | Buyer | After loading on the buyer’s truck | | DAP | Seller | Buyer | At the destination, before unloading | | DPU | Seller | Seller | At the destination, after unloading | | DDP | Seller | Buyer | At the destination, before unloading | ## Customs clearance inside and outside the EU Under every road rule except EXW, the seller clears export. Under every rule except DDP, the buyer clears import. Inside the EU, EU goods need neither. Goods that move between EU countries pay no customs duties and need no customs declaration. A load from the Netherlands to Lithuania needs no customs clearance. Norway is different. Norway is in the European Economic Area, but outside the EU customs union. Customs borders and procedures still apply between Norway and the EU. On a Norway load, the Incoterms rule decides who clears export and who clears import. DDP to Norway means the seller clears import in Norway. ICC advises both sides to think carefully before they choose DDP. Agree before loading who files each declaration: the seller, the buyer or a customs broker. ## How to write the Incoterms rule in a contract Write three parts in the contract: the rule, the exact place and the edition. For example: “DAP Kaunas, \[street address and postcode\], Incoterms 2020”. ICC advises a precise place, because a city name alone can mean many addresses. Under DAP, DPU and DDP, the named place is where the risk passes. Under CPT and CIP, the named place is the destination. The risk passes earlier, at loading. __Writing the named place__ | Level | Example | Result | | ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | | Too vague | DAP Lithuania | The whole country. Nobody knows the delivery address. | | Better | DAP Kaunas | A city, but no street. The warehouse is still unclear. | | Clear, for a delivery | DAP Kaunas, \[street address and postcode\], Incoterms 2020 | Both sides know the place and the edition. | | Clear, for a collection | FCA Tilburg, \[seller’s street address and postcode\], Incoterms 2020 | The seller loads at this address. The risk passes there. | ## Choosing a rule: buying from the Netherlands, selling to Sweden You buy goods from the Netherlands and want to book the truck. Then ask for FCA at the supplier’s address. The supplier loads, and you choose the carrier. If the supplier should arrange transport, ask for DAP at your address. Avoid EXW, because the supplier then has no duty to load. You sell goods to Sweden, and the buyer wants a delivered price. Then use DAP at the buyer’s address. You book the truck, and the risk stays with you until it arrives. The carrier’s CMR liability is limited to 8.33 SDR per kilogram, about 10 euros per kilogram. For valuable goods, check cargo insurance. 1. ### Decide who books the truck The buyer books under EXW and FCA. The seller books under CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU and DDP. 2. ### Choose a rule for road freight At the seller’s premises, choose FCA over EXW. For delivery to the buyer, choose DAP, or DPU if the seller unloads. 3. ### Write the full place and the edition Write the rule, the street address and “Incoterms 2020” in the contract and on the order. 4. ### Check customs outside the EU For Norway, agree who clears export and who clears import. 5. ### Send us the rule with your request Send us the route, the date, the load size and the rule in the price form. Then we know where we collect and deliver. ## Incoterms for road freight: who does what The table has one row for each rule that fits a truck. Inside the EU, EU goods need no customs clearance, so the last two columns apply to loads to or from Norway. __Who does what under each road freight rule__ | Rule | Books and pays the main transport | Risk passes to the buyer | Loads the truck | Clears export | Clears import | | ---- | ------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ------------- | ------------- | | EXW | Buyer | At the seller’s place, before loading | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | | FCA | Buyer | After loading at the seller’s place, or at another named place | Seller, at the seller’s place | Seller | Buyer | | CPT | Seller | When the seller hands the goods to the carrier | Seller | Seller | Buyer | | CIP | Seller, with cargo insurance for the buyer | When the seller hands the goods to the carrier | Seller | Seller | Buyer | | DAP | Seller | At the named place, ready for unloading | Seller | Seller | Buyer | | DPU | Seller | At the named place, after unloading | Seller | Seller | Buyer | | DDP | Seller | At the named place, ready for unloading | Seller | Seller | Seller | ## Frequently asked questions 1. Is Incoterms 2020 still valid in 2026? Yes. Incoterms 2020 is the current edition of the ICC rules. ICC is preparing Incoterms 2030 and plans to publish it in late 2029\. Until then, Incoterms 2020 applies. Write “Incoterms 2020” after the rule and the place, so both sides use the same text. 2. What does DAP mean in road freight? DAP means Delivered at Place. The seller books and pays the truck to the named place, such as the buyer’s warehouse. The risk passes when the truck arrives, ready for unloading. The buyer unloads. If the load crosses a customs border, the buyer clears import. 3. What is the difference between EXW and FCA? Under EXW, the buyer loads the truck and clears export. Under FCA at the seller’s premises, the seller does both. In both rules, the buyer books and pays the main transport. ICC says EXW suits domestic sales and suggests FCA for export. 4. Can I use FOB for a truck? No. FOB is a rule for sea and inland waterway transport. Under FOB, delivery happens on board a ship. A truck has no such point. For a truck that collects at the seller’s premises, use FCA with the seller’s address. Use CPT or CIP in place of CFR or CIF. 5. Do I need customs clearance for a load from the Netherlands to Lithuania? No, not for EU goods. Both countries are in the EU customs union. Goods that move between EU countries pay no customs duties and need no customs declaration. A CMR consignment note still travels with the load. Loads to or from Norway need customs clearance. 6. Who does RNJ Transport work for under DAP? Usually the seller. Under DAP, the seller books and pays the truck, so the seller is our customer. Under EXW and FCA, the buyer books the truck, so we work for the buyer. Tell us the rule in your contract when you ask for a price. ## Sources (6) 1. [ICC Academy: Insider thoughts: Bob Ronai on Incoterms® 2020 Rules; What are they about?](https://academy.iccwbo.org/incoterms/article/insider-thoughts-bob-ronai-on-incoterms-2020-rules-what-are-they-about/) 2. [ICC Academy: Understanding the place of delivery and risk transfer in international trade contracts](https://academy.iccwbo.org/incoterms/article/place-of-delivery-risk-transfer-global-trade-contracts/) 3. [ICC Academy: Incoterms® 2020: CFR vs FOB & the title transfer myth](https://academy.iccwbo.org/incoterms/article/incoterms-2020-new-rules-old-problems/) 4. [ICC Austria: Incoterms® 2030](https://www.icc-austria.org/en/Service/Drafting-import-export-contracts/incoterms2030.htm) 5. [European Commission, Taxation and Customs Union: EU Customs Union, a major trading partner](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs/eu-customs-union-facts-and-figures/eu-customs-union-major-trading-partner%5Fen) 6. [European Commission, Access2Markets: European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement](https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/content/european-economic-area-eea-agreement) We checked these sources on 19 October 2026. ## Ask about a truck for your Incoterms rule Send the route, the date, the load size and the Incoterms rule in the price form. We call you back and check a truck for that rule. You can also call us during working hours. [ +370 698 38573 ](tel:+37069838573) A person in our Klaipėda office answers your call. Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00, Lithuanian time - [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/37069838573) - [info@rnjtransport.lt](mailto:info@rnjtransport.lt) ### Get a price Send your route and your phone number. We call you back about the price. --- RNJ Transport (UAB "RNJ Transport", company code 305801389), Šilutės pl. 105A, LT-95112 Klaipėda, Lithuania. Phone: +370 698 38573. Email: info@rnjtransport.lt. Company summary for AI assistants: https://rnjtransport.lt/llms.txt. 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