e-CMR and eFTI are the two reference points for electronic freight transport documents. e-CMR is the digital version of the international consignment note provided for by the CMR Convention. eFTI (electronic Freight Transport Information) is Regulation (EU) 2020/1056, which sets out when enforcement authorities in EU member states have to accept freight transport information in electronic form.
e-CMR: the electronic consignment note
The CMR Convention governs contracts for the international carriage of goods by road. Its Additional Protocol, signed in Geneva on 20 February 2008, allows the consignment note to be issued electronically for carriage between the countries that are party to it. The protocol has been in force since 5 June 2011, and Italy acceded on 28 June 2024.
eFTI: exchanging data with authorities
The eFTI Regulation does not force companies to give up paper. It says that when an operator chooses to make regulatory information available to authorities electronically, it must do so through a certified eFTI platform, and that authorities must accept it. The regulation has applied since 21 August 2024, but the duty on authorities to accept starts 30 months after the first delegated and implementing acts entered into force: according to the European Commission, on 9 July 2027.
When drivers are posted, for example, the electronic consignment note is one of the documents a driver can use on board to prove the transport operation. The operational picture is in the guide to driving times, posting and cabotage.
FAQ
What is the difference between e-CMR and eFTI?
e-CMR is a document: the consignment note for an international road haulage contract, in digital form. eFTI is a framework for sharing data with authorities, and it covers many kinds of regulatory information, not just the consignment note.
Will paper be banned from 2027?
No. The eFTI Regulation obliges authorities to accept the electronic format, not companies to use it. Operators who stay with paper documents can keep doing so.