E-CMR consignment note

New digital version of the CMR consignment note

Some of the key benefits to e-CMR include:

The driver (carrier) app supports:

Additional information:

PEPPOL

e-POD

e-CMR

The stakeholders involved:

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New digital version of the CMR consignment note

As a part of our company vision, Digitizing International Trade, we have headed the OASIS UBL transportation Subcommittee, and our colleague Peter Borresen, Chief Technology Officer at ClearView Trade, has been chairman for CEN TC 440 WG7 – regarding fulfillment, which deals with despatch advice and receipt advice. This is in connection with ISO 204 (intelligent logistics) via Mike Onder.

All our solutions are based on open standards (UBL and UN CEFACT) and a secure public infrastructure Peppol, which in Denmark is the infrastructure for “Nemhandel” governed by the Danish Business Authority.

The result of the ISO work committee is published in the new updated UBL 2.3 standard, which is the first common standard for digital data exchange for Multimodal transportation (Air, Sea, Road and Rail) and all relevant transport documents, certificates and logistics processes. The new version UBL 2.3 is a TC approved standard, and will be released later in 2021 as an update of ISO 19845.

Our ClearView Trade platform offers Exporters, Carriers and Forwarders access to standardized digital information and supports an automated data exchange throughout the entire logistics value chain.

We now introduce the e-CMR document to our more than 4.000 danish exporting companies to ensure compliance with EU legislation (E-FTI) and the legislation for Proof of Delivery (ePoD) in a cost-effective way, minimizing data errors and associated cost of claims.

CMR (Convention relative au contrat de transport international de Marchandises par Route)

is the United Nations Convention for transporting goods internationally. A CMR consignment note was only possible in paper form until 2017. The e-CMR was officially launched in 2017.

Some of the key benefits to e-CMR include:

Lower costs
Faster administration with reduced data entry, no paper handling, no fax/scan/letter exchanges, no paper archiving, etc.
Faster invoicing
Reduction of delivery and reception discrepancies
Data accuracy
Control and monitoring of the shipment
Real-time access to the information & proof of pick-up and delivery

Because of its digital nature, e-CMR can also be easily integrated with other services used by transport companies, e.g. customs declaration or transport & fleet management services. By moving to an electronic format, the three parties involved in each shipment benefit from increased overall efficiency of logistics, resulting in increased economic competitiveness.

Another benefit is greater road safety, as e-CMR can be linked to eCall, a system for trucks that automatically dials emergency services in the event of a road traffic accident.

ClearView Trade coordinates the implementation of e-CMR with other European projects in the field, including Dinnocap and Fenix, so that our implementation can become the current European standard.

As the carriers and forwarders are an integrated part of this information workflow, we have developed a WEB based app for the e-CMR to allow easy access for any driver (carrier) and API access for the forwarder. The API is made available via the Peppol infrastructure.

The driver (carrier) app supports:

Job list view
Sign in of driver and license plate
Pick up instructions and adjustments
Damage Goods reporting (Photo),
Related documents
Real time transport updates
More options

In the period of May/June 2021 we will start a pilot project for full loads for Arla Foods amba and Nagel, followed by transports of general cargo in July/August.

From September 2021 the e-CMR information will be available for interested carriers and forwarders via the Peppol infrastructure. PEPPOL will come into force in Denmark in January 2023, and we are working to ensure that the information in the mandatory profile on Despatch Advice (shipping notification) can be mapped directly to e-CMR.

Additional information:

eFTI regulation:

The electronic freight transport information (eFTI) regulation has been approved by the EU and will enter into force in August 2024. It aims to speed up the digitisation of freight transport by creating an electronic platform where companies and authorities will exchange information on-road operations.

The eFTI is part of the third “Europe on the move” package, which is in line with the Low Carbon Mobility Strategy and the two Mobility Packages.

The European Commission estimates that the reduced administrative burden of using digital forms will save operators up to EUR 27 billion over the next 20 years. The eFTI regulation will increase the efficiency of all types of transport, by eliminating the administrative burden of paper documents.

The eFTI regulation specifies new standards for:

Dangerous Goods
Shipment of waste
Cabotage
E-signature and stamps
Cybersecurity
Unified open standards
Exporter Proof of delivery (POD)

This regulation is only a starting point for further transport digitization, such as e-CMR consignment note.

PEPPOL

PEPPOL enables trading partners to exchange standards-based electronic documents over the PEPPOL network (based on a 4-corner model). These documents include e-Orders, e-Advance Shipping Notes, eInvoices, eCatalogues, e-CMR, Message Level Responses, etc.

PEPPOL Access Points connect users to the PEPPOL network and exchange electronic documents based on the PEPPOL specifications. Buyers and suppliers are free to choose their preferred single Access Point provider to connect to all PEPPOL participants already on the network. (‘Connect once, connect to all’).

PEPPOL is based on three major pillars:

e-POD

An electronic proof of delivery (e-POD) is a digital format (usually PDF) of a traditional paper delivery order or delivery note.

Benefits of e-POD software include elimination of paperwork, improvement of on-site service, improving of customer communication, optimization of workforce productivity, data sharing.

A new EU regulation stipulates that the POD must be stored for 2 years before discharging it.

e-CMR

According to PTC association, almost 99% of transport operations in Denmark to the major retail companies involve paper-based Consignment note at one or another stage of the operation.

According to Road transport operators, 99% of which are SMEs, are expected to benefit of about 60% of all industry administrative costs savings. According to Denmark’s Statistics, total estimated no. of CMR (2019) in Denmark is 9,9 million.

The stakeholders involved:

European Commission (eFTI regulation)
Manufacturers
e-CMR providers
Forwarders
International and local Carriers
Warehouses
Public controlling agencies
Road administrations
State statistics
Retail shops
E-Commerce
Last mile delivery

Value of digital e-CMR against paper documentation

Private sector:

Lower costs with up to 60%
Faster administration with reduced data entry, no paper handling, no fax/scan/letter exchanges, no paper archiving, etc.
Faster invoicing
Reduction of delivery and reception discrepancies
Data accuracy
Control and monitoring of the shipment
Real-time access to the information & proof of pick-up and delivery

Public sector:

Automated info to Statistics department
Realtime information to Tax inspection
Risk analyze
Online calculation of taxes
Tax refunds
The police has the possibility to control road taxes and overweight from distance
The customs can make preliminary automatic control of documents at the border
Rescue Service in case of accident is aware of the type of dangerous goods inside the truck