ISO 39001 certification of road traffic safety management systems
We certify road traffic safety management systems to ISO 39001 in Bulgaria under the established certification procedures of CERTIND S.A. The certificate you will receive is accredited and internationally recognized. The audit is conducted in Bulgarian, and you will receive a tailored quote within two hours.
- AccreditationCERTIND S.A. · IAS
- Auditin Bulgarian, at your premises
- Quotewithin 2 hours during business hours
The standard at a glance
What is ISO 39001?
ISO 39001 is the international standard that sets out the requirements for a road traffic safety management system. It enables an organization that interacts with the road traffic system to reduce deaths and serious injuries related to road traffic crashes.
The standard was created to have a significant impact on road traffic safety and to raise awareness of speed and of the condition of vehicles and drivers. In its public role, ISO 39001 makes roads safer for everyone who travels and works on them.
It applies to public and private organizations that interact with the road traffic system — carriers and organizations with their own vehicle fleet, companies that design, build and maintain road infrastructure, and organizations that generate traffic. ISO 39001:2012 follows the common structure of ISO standards and integrates with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 — with shared documentation and a joint audit.
The certificate does not guarantee that an accident will not happen. It provides independent proof that the organization has identified the factors it can control or influence, has set objectives and uses data to monitor whether the risk is decreasing.
What an ISO 39001 system manages
- Journeys and transport — distance travelled, traffic volume and the types of vehicle the organization operates.
- Drivers — licences, instruction, working and rest times, fatigue and distraction behind the wheel.
- Vehicles — technical condition, maintenance, safety equipment and the right vehicle for the task.
- Routes and speed — journey planning, route selection and safe speed rules.
- Personal protective equipment — seat belts, helmets and high-visibility vests when working on or near the road.
- Post-crash response — action in the event of an incident, first aid, investigation of causes and corrective actions.
Safety factors
What determines the risk on the road
The system covers the factors that the organization can control or influence. For each significant factor, objectives are set, measures and responsibilities are assigned, and results are monitored.
- Speed
A safe speed for the road and the conditions — and schedules that do not put drivers under time pressure.
- The driver
Appropriate licences, instruction, working and rest times, fatigue, distraction, alcohol and drugs.
- The vehicle
Technical condition, maintenance, safety equipment and the right type of vehicle for the task.
- Route and planning
Route selection, allocation of trips and distance travelled — part of the risk is managed before anyone sets off.
- After a crash
Incident response, first aid, reporting and analysis of causes to prevent a recurrence.
The standard also takes account of exposure to risk — distance travelled, types of vehicle and traffic volume — as well as the use of seat belts, helmets and high-visibility vests. Which factors are significant depends on the activity: the list is different for a courier company and for a road construction company.
Who is involved
Road safety is a shared effort
ISO 39001 assigns clear roles — from the dispatch office to the driver’s cab. The audit checks not only the documentation but also whether people know their duties and carry them out in practice.
- sets the objectivesTop management
- Adopts a road safety policy and measurable objectives
- Provides resources — people, equipment and time for maintenance
- Appoints the persons responsible and defines their authority
- Reviews the system’s indicators and results
- put it into practice on the roadDrivers
- Keep their licences valid and comply with working and rest time rules
- Check the vehicle before setting off
- Observe speed limits and the rules behind the wheel
- Report accidents, near misses and breakdowns
- plan the journeysDispatch and logistics
- Draw up routes and schedules without unnecessary time pressure
- Take account of traffic density, time of day and weather conditions
- Allocate trips according to drivers’ licences and experience
- Keep records of journeys and distances travelled
- keeps the vehicles roadworthyFleet maintenance
- Plans and documents servicing
- Monitors tyres, brakes, lights and safety systems
- Takes any vehicle with an identified defect off the road
- Applies the same requirements to subcontracted carriers
The standard requires it to be clear who is responsible for each significant factor and how safety performance indicators are monitored. If some of the transport is carried out by subcontractors, they fall within the scope of the rules — this is one of the things the auditor checks through interviews and records on site.
The requirements in brief
What ISO 39001 requires
The standard does not prescribe the same measures for everyone. It requires the organization to establish how its activities affect road risk, to set objectives for the significant factors and to prove with data what is changing.
- Council of Ministers decisionThe standard is aimed at organizations that use the road network, maintain the transport infrastructure or have an impact on its active use.
- Preparation of legislative amendmentsInstitutions that issue permits and licences for the carriage of goods and passengers are to prepare legislative amendments making an implemented BDS ISO 39001:2014 system a condition for carrying out the activity.
- Public procurementContracting authorities are to require applicants, where applicable, to have an implemented BDS ISO 39001:2014 system — for example, in contracts for the transport of goods or passengers, or for the construction, repair or maintenance of roads.
Check the conditions of the specific procedure or licence — whether and how an ISO 39001 system is required depends on the applicable legislation and the contracting authority’s documentation. More on the decision in the article Safer roads through a management system.
What the auditor checks
- Objectives
Safety policy and objectives
A policy adopted by top management and measurable objectives for reducing accidents, known to drivers and teams.
- Risk
Risk assessment by route and activity
Which transport operations, routes and activities carry the greatest risk, and which factors the organization can control or influence.
- Data
Safety performance indicators
Measurable indicators — distances travelled, accidents, near misses, violations — that are monitored and analysed.
- Incidents
Accident investigation
A procedure for reporting, investigating causes and taking corrective actions, and for checking whether they have worked.
- Equipment
Vehicle requirements
Technical condition, planned maintenance, safety equipment and the right type of vehicle for the task.
- Partners
Working with subcontractors
Safety rules are extended to carriers and contractors working on behalf of the organization.
How certification to ISO 39001 works
The process is the same for every organization and follows ISO/IEC 17021-1, the international standard for certification bodies. Only the audit duration differs — it depends on the number of employees, the sites and the complexity of the activity.
The process in detail- 01 Enquiry and quoteYou describe your activity, number of employees and sites. You receive a quote with the scope, audit duration and price.within 2 hours during business hours
- 02 Contract and audit planOnce the contract is signed, we agree the dates, the scope and the audit team.dates that suit you
- 03 Stage 1 — readiness reviewThe auditor reviews the safety factors, objectives and indicators and the rules for drivers and vehicles, and assesses readiness.documents, scope, readiness
- 04 Stage 2 — on-site auditThe auditor checks how things work on site — trip planning, working and rest times, fleet maintenance, investigated accidents and records.in Bulgarian, at your premises
- 05 Corrective actionsIf nonconformities are found, you are given a deadline to correct them and submit evidence.only if needed
- 06 Decision and certificateAn independent certification decision and issue of the certificate by CERTIND S.A.recognized under Global ACI
What the price of ISO 39001 certification depends on
The price of the certificate is not fixed, because it is calculated from several factors, including the audit days your organization requires, which are determined under the mandatory document Global ACI-TECH-3-004 (formerly IAF MD 5).
ISO certification pricingNumber of employees
The main factor — it determines the size of the audit. Part-time staff are counted too.
Fleet and transport operations
The number and type of vehicles, the type of transport and whether some of it is subcontracted.
Number of sites and locations
Each base, depot or site is either audited or sampled — under the Global ACI-TECH-3-001 (formerly IAF MD 1) rules for multi-site organizations.
Scope of the system
Which activities, sites and transport operations are covered by the certificate.
Integrated system
When certifying together with ISO 9001 or ISO 45001, the audit is combined and shorter than separate audits.
The full three-year cycle
In addition to the initial audit, plan for the annual surveillance audits and recertification after three years.
A consultant to implement the system is a separate cost. A certification body cannot provide consultancy to the organizations it certifies — this is an impartiality requirement under ISO/IEC 17021-1.
Describe your activity, number of employees and sites — within two hours during business hours you will receive a quote with scope and price.
Exact quote within 2 hoursQuestions and answers
Frequently asked questions about ISO 39001
Answers to the questions our clients ask most often before certification.
What does an ISO 39001 certificate give you?
It provides independent proof that the organization manages the risks related to road traffic. The result is fewer road accidents and safer, more efficient transport, a better working environment and greater employee satisfaction, lower vehicle costs and fewer administrative procedures with insurance companies. The certificate is also a competitive advantage in tenders, improves the organization’s image and demonstrates a commitment to corporate social responsibility. Better-organized work increases staff productivity, helps with regulatory compliance and leads to a more reliable service and fewer customer complaints.
Which organizations is ISO 39001 suitable for?
Public and private organizations that interact with the road traffic system, regardless of their size: road transport operators, couriers, organizations with their own fleet for carrying passengers and goods, taxis and airport transfers; design and road construction companies and traffic control and management services; educational institutions, shopping centres and sports complexes that generate traffic; and institutions that contract for transport or for the construction, repair or maintenance of roads.
Is ISO 39001 required in public procurement?
A Council of Ministers decision of 17 January 2019 provides that, after 1 January 2021, contracting authorities should require applicants, where applicable, to have an implemented ISO 39001 system, and that institutions issuing transport permits and licences should prepare legislative amendments. The specific requirements are stated in the procurement documentation or in the applicable legislation — check them for your procedure.
What does BDS ISO 39001:2014 mean?
This is the Bulgarian edition of the international standard. The current ISO edition is ISO 39001:2012, while Bulgarian documentation and legislation use the designation BDS ISO 39001:2014. The requirements for the management system are the same.
Can ISO 39001 be combined with other standards?
Yes. The standard follows the common structure of ISO management system standards and can be fully integrated with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. The documentation is shared and the audits are conducted jointly. How this works is explained in the article Certification to two or more standards.
How much does an ISO 39001 certificate cost?
The price depends mainly on the number of employees, the sites, the vehicle fleet and the type of transport. That is why every quote is tailored. You will find guidance on the factors on the Pricing page, and you receive an exact quote within 2 hours of your enquiry. If you already hold a valid accredited certificate from another body, transfer is a free procedure — you pay only the agreed audit fee.
How long does ISO 39001 certification take?
The overall timeframe depends mainly on how ready the system is: if the significant factors have been identified, objectives and indicators set, and an internal audit and management review carried out, certification proceeds quickly. The audit has two stages, and if nonconformities are found, time for corrective actions is added. The steps are described on the Certification page.
Do I need a consultant to get certified?
It is not mandatory — many organizations use consultants because they have the experience and qualifications needed to conduct the internal audit in line with the auditing standard ISO 19011:2026 — Guidelines for auditing management systems. The consultant must be independent of the certification body: the body that certifies you cannot provide you with consultancy on the same system. This is an impartiality requirement under ISO/IEC 17021-1.
How can I check whether an ISO 39001 certificate is accredited?
Check which body issued it and whether that body is accredited by an accreditation body that is a member of Global ACI. Global ACI (Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated) is a global network of accreditation bodies, regional cooperation bodies and other organizations involved in conformity assessment. Since 1 January 2026 it has brought together and replaced IAF and ILAC. Accredited certificates can be checked in the international register IAF CertSearch. Certificates issued through us are from CERTIND S.A.; for ISO 39001, accreditation is by IAS (USA) — a member of Global ACI — and the certificates are published in this register. The database is publicly accessible. To find out what else to check before choosing a body, read How to choose a certification body.
Standards that combine with ISO 39001
ISO 39001 follows the common structure of ISO management system standards. That is why it is implemented and audited together with the other standards you already have — with shared documentation and a joint audit that takes less time than separate ones.
All standards
ISO 45001Occupational health and safetyThe closest standard — road safety is part of the risk to workers.To the standard 
ISO 9001Quality managementThe most frequently combined standard — shared documentation and one integrated audit.To the standard 
ISO 14001Environmental managementPart of the usual package for public procurement in transport and construction.To the standard 
ISO 28000Supply chain securityFor carriers and logistics operators — cargo security all the way to the consignee.To the standard
Useful articles on ISO 39001
All articles- 01ISO 39001Which organizations is ISO 39001 for?The groups of organizations, the safety factors and the 2019 Council of Ministers decision.
- 02ISO 45001Occupational health and safetyThe standard ISO 39001 is most often combined with.
- 03BenefitsWhat are the benefits of implementing ISO 45001?For employees, for management, and with clients and contracting authorities.
- 04Integrated systemCertification to two or more standardsHow several standards are combined into one system and one joint audit.
ISO 39001 · Free quote
Ready for certification to ISO 39001?
Describe your activity, fleet and sites — you will receive a quote with the scope and price before you commit to anything. Since 2010 we have carried out over 1,600 certifications; see our certified clients.
- Quote within 2 hoursWith scope and price, during business hours.
- Audit in BulgarianOn site, by auditors who know your sector.
- Certificate accredited by IASRecognized by the accreditation bodies that are members of Global ACI.