TransFollow — 2025-08-26
Land transportation
Continued legal validity for digital freight documentation
On 22 July 2025, the Benelux Committee of Ministers officially announced the extension of the intra-Benelux pilot project on electronic consignment notes (eCMR). Originally launched on 1 December 2017 and extended in 2020, the pilot was set to expire on 20 August 2025. It will now continue until 9 July 2027, ensuring ongoing legal recognition of the use of eCMRs within the Benelux region.
This extension aligns with the anticipated implementation of Regulation (EU) 2020/1056, which will enable competent authorities to access and process electronic freight transport information across the EU (eFTI regulation). This regulatory milestone reinforces the reliability and legal standing of digital freight documentation.
What does this mean for transport and logistics companies?
This is excellent news for carriers operating across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The extension guarantees that digital consignment notes remain valid and legally recognized for cross-border transport within the Benelux.
To benefit from this framework, companies must ensure that their eCMR solutions comply with the Additional Protocol to the CMR Convention, which sets the highest standards for legal validity, data integrity, and interoperability.
Global adoption of eCMR
To date, 38 countries have ratified the eCMR protocol, enabling the use of digital consignment notes in international road transport. Notably, Spain is considering making eCMR mandatory in 2026, signalling a broader shift toward digitalisation in freight operations.
While eight countries have yet to ratify the protocol, Directive (EU) 2020/1057 already mandates that electronic consignment notes be accepted as valid proof of transport during roadside checks, further validating their authenticity and reliability.