HUNGARY APPROVES E-CMR PROTOCOL
On 28 August, Hungary became the third country to adopt the e-CMR protocol this summer, following Italy and Austria. Hungary being the 38th country to join e-CMR, the electronic waybill is now available in almost all of Europe.
The switch from paper-based to fully digital consignment notes will boost the efficiency and safety of goods transport across Hungary and other countries which adopted the protocol. By eliminating paperwork, e-CMR lowers handling costs, ends administrative and invoicing delays, and reduces discrepancies at delivery sites. e-CMR also elevates transparency and security across the entire logistics chain. It provides more accurate data to track shipments with real-time pick-up and delivery information.
Belgium has remarkably not yet officially ratified the e-CMR, although a pilot with the digital waybill is running there. This will change in 2025 when the European e-FTI (electronic Freight Transport Information) Regulation comes into force.
Under this Regulation, all EU Member States will have to accept digital data for all legally required information in freight transport. The e-CMR will then become a valid consignment note throughout the EU.