New requirements highlight accelerating shift towards digital transport documentation in international road freight
Amsterdam, the Netherlands, April 14th, 2026: Spain’s introduction of mandatory digital freight documentation is highlighting a broader shift across Europe towards the adoption of electronic consignment notes (eCMR), according to TransFollow.
The requirement is expected to influence logistics operations beyond Spain’s borders, particularly for companies managing cross-border transport routes that include stopovers in the country.
For these operators, the ability to exchange freight documentation digitally is becoming increasingly important to maintain compliance and ensure smooth international transport flows.
The shift comes as the logistics sector marks 75 years since the introduction of the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR), the legal framework that standardised transport documentation for international road freight.
“CMR has now supported international road freight for 75 years, and regulation making eCMR mandatory is necessary to ensure the digitalisation of transport documentation is implemented accurately and effectively across the sector,” said Hans Lip, Chief Operating Officer, TransFollow.
“Spain’s introduction of mandatory digital documentation demonstrates how regulatory developments can accelerate adoption across international supply chains, particularly for operators moving goods across multiple European markets.”
Whilst 38 countries have ratified the eCMR Protocol, implementation and operational adoption remain uneven across Europe.
Upcoming milestones under the EU’s Electronic Freight Transport Information Regulation (eFTI) are expected to further accelerate digitalisation across the sector; by mid-2026, EU Member States are expected to have national systems capable of connecting to the European digital logistics environment, and from July 2027 authorities will be required to accept electronic freight transport information.
“TransFollow is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, and over the past decade we have witnessed the industry’s eagerness to move forward; however, progress remains uneven and risks holding back the full benefits of digitalisation,” added Lip.
“Governments must now accelerate the harmonisation and implementation of eCMR legislation across Europe to avoid fragmentation and enable seamless cross-border operations.
“Without coordinated action, the industry cannot fully realise the efficiency, compliance and sustainability gains that digital freight documentation offers.”
TransFollow has been the pioneer in the document digitalisation sphere and one of the first ones to provide a compliant, golden standard for eCMR. Nowadays, TransFollow supports transport operations digitalisation, enabling real-time visibility and transport documents, such as eCMR to be created, exchanged, and stored digitally through an API, web portal and mobile application. TransFollow integrates with TMS, FMS, WMS and other systems used by shippers, carriers, logistics providers and authorities.
Over the past decade, the company has worked with national and international transport and logistics associations, including the International Road Transport Union (IRU), and developed a network of distributors and software partners supporting the adoption of eCMR.
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