The international road transport of goods is regulated by the CMR Convention (Convention des Marchandises par Route), signed in Geneva on May 19, 1956, with the primary goal of harmonizing the contractual conditions for goods transported by road and facilitating the transport of goods in general.
The CMR is a paper document (waybill) that certifies the receipt of the shipment for the road transport of goods when the place of loading and the place of delivery are located in two different countries.
The electronic CMR (e-CMR), promoted by the IRU, was introduced in 2008 through the Additional Protocol to the CMR Convention and came into force on June 5, 2011. It contains all the details of the paper waybill, with additional features such as the ability to attach documents and photos, and authentication through an electronic signature.
Italy has formally adhered to the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the contract for the international carriage of goods by road (CMR), concerning the electronic waybill - e-CMR - with Law no. 37 of March 8, 2024 (Official Gazette no. 73 of March 27, 2024).
From September 26, 2024, electronic waybills (e-CMR) that accompany international road freight shipments will become fully operational in Italy.
Italy's adherence represents a significant step towards modernizing the transport and logistics sector in Italy, promoting innovation and efficiency in one of the most crucial industries for the country's economy.
The use of e-CMR aligns with the goals of optimizing and increasing the efficiency of the logistics and transport chain, which are the focus of the European Mobility Package, with particular reference to Regulation (EU) 2020/1056 regarding electronic freight transport information (eFTI), whose provisions will be effective from August 21, 2024.
Increased efficiency and transparency in the transport process, with the possibility of having real-time proof of delivery of goods, and speeding up controls by the authorities.
In compiling documents and supporting multilingual platforms to facilitate international transport.
Reduction of paper not only during transport but also in the storage phase.
Simplification and acceleration of the administrative management of documentation with positive effects on archiving and reduction of invoicing times.
The simplification of logistics procedures and the digitization of documents, with particular attention to the adoption of the e-CMR and the modernization of regulations related to freight transport, is one of the priorities in the EU strategy for more efficient mobility, supported by European Regulations 2020/1056 and 2020/1055.
Italy, in following European guidelines, has dedicated specific actions in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) under Mission Infrastructures for Sustainable Mobility M3C2.2, reform Intermodality and integrated logistics: "Simplification of logistics procedures and digitization of documents, with particular reference to the adoption of the electronic CMR, the modernization of regulations on freight shipping, and the identification of analysis laboratories".
For businesses, simplification is essential to transition from rigid bureaucracy to a more streamlined administration. This process requires constant effort, and Uniontrasporti, in collaboration with Unioncamere, plays a crucial role in the dematerialization of transport documents. This is a key challenge for the chamber system, which thus responds to the growing demand for more efficient solutions from businesses, while strengthening its institutional role.
The e-CMR ITALIA initiative serves as a catalyst for the actions and projects of the chamber system for the dissemination and promotion of the use of the electronic waybill and, more generally, the digitization of transport documents, improving the efficiency of the logistics chain and reducing environmental impact.
In particular, the e-CMR Italy pilot Project has focused on the operational experimentation of the electronic waybill with Italian operators.
Continuing the activities already underway, the e-CMR Italy adoption Project aims to facilitate the adoption of digital transport documentation in Italy through targeted awareness-raising actions and field trials, involving authorities and stakeholders.
The e-CMR ITALIA project by Unioncamere has experimented with the use of electronic waybills to improve logistics efficiency, involving companies in pilot projects.
DiscoverThe D-ROAD IT project, launched in 2024, promotes the adoption of digital transport documentation in Italy through information campaigns, networking and e-CMR trials.
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