Does the employee or driver need to be named before the carnet is issued?
Not necessarily. The carnet is issued to a named holder, but another person can act as a representative.
If the employee or driver is already named on the carnet, that helps show their authority. If they are not named, they may need written authorisation from the holder instead. For the detailed requirements, see our guide to an ATA Carnet letter of authority.
The useful point is that you do not always need to know the final driver weeks in advance. What matters is making sure whoever travels is appropriately authorised before they leave.
Can we give the carnet to whichever driver is scheduled?
Not without checking first.
A last-minute driver change does not automatically mean starting the whole carnet process again, but the replacement driver still needs the correct authority. This matters for businesses using rotating drivers, hauliers, production crews, or different employees across several journeys.
Before handing over the carnet, confirm who will actually present the goods to customs and whether their authority is clear.
What should you tell an ATA carnet driver before they leave?
Handing over the carnet is only part of the job. The person travelling should understand enough about the journey to know when they need to stop, present the document, and check that customs has dealt with it.
Before departure, make sure they know:
Which goods are covered by the carnet
The destination and any transit countries
Where customs formalities are expected
Who the named carnet holder is
What authority they are carrying
Who to contact if customs asks something they cannot answer
Not to leave customs if they are unsure whether the carnet has been processed
ATA Carnets use vouchers and counterfoils to record stages such as export, import, re-export, and return. Missing stamps or incorrect validation can create problems later, even where the goods themselves moved correctly.
Who is responsible if the driver misses part of the customs procedure?
The carnet is issued to the holder, so do not assume the paperwork becomes solely the driver’s responsibility because they are carrying it.
For example, a driver might leave a destination without the expected re-export record being completed. The equipment may return as planned, but the carnet may no longer show the movement as cleanly as it should.
If a stamp, endorsement, or customs stage is missed, seek advice as soon as possible. It is usually easier to establish what happened while the journey is still recent.
What if the driver or travel plan changes?
A different driver is not the only change worth checking. A revised route, extra transit country, new transport provider, or different employee carrying the goods may also affect the journey.
If something material changes, confirm the route, traveller, and authority before the goods move rather than assuming the original arrangements still apply. The existing application guidance similarly recommends confirming the route and authorised users, and raising changes rather than assuming the original arrangements still cover the journey.
ATA carnet driver checklist before departure
Before the driver leaves:
Confirm who is travelling
Check they are named or properly authorised
Match the travelling goods to the carnet
Confirm the route and destination
Explain the customs stages
Give them a contact for help
Recheck the paperwork if the journey changes
Need help preparing a carnet for an employee or driver?
Carnet Wizard’s ATA Carnet services can help you prepare the paperwork around the actual journey, including who is travelling, where the goods are going, and what needs checking before departure.
A well-prepared carnet still needs a well-prepared traveller. If you are unsure whether your employee or driver is ready to use it, speak to Carnet Wizard before they leave.
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