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Transport and Communications Agency

Electronic Freight Transport Information

eFTI is changing how transport information is managed and presented across the EU. It establishes a common approach for both authorities and businesses.

eFTI in Brief

  • Enables the electronic submission of transport information to competent authorities and the sharing of information between businesses.
  • Authorities must accept eFTI-compliant data from July 2027 onwards.
  • Adoption remains voluntary for businesses at present.
  • Benefits include reduced manual processing of transport information, lower costs, and higher-quality data.
  • Requires an eFTI-compliant system, either developed in-house or purchased as a service.

How Does eFTI Work?

eFTI (electronic Freight Transport Information) is an EU-wide standard for managing and sharing transport information. It can be used both for providing transport information to competent authorities responsible for freight transport controls and for exchanging information between businesses.

The objective is to improve the efficiency of freight transport and logistics while reducing administrative burdens.

Currently, companies must present transport information to authorities using paper documents or via a mobile device operated by the driver. With eFTI, companies can provide transport information electronically.

From July 2027, authorities conducting inspections must accept electronic transport information from companies. In Finland, eFTI information will be received by the Police and Customs authorities.

Companies may also choose to share eFTI data submitted to authorities with other parties in the transport chain. Today, a significant amount of transport-related information is still handled manually and transferred between systems by hand. eFTI reduces this manual work.

The use of eFTI is voluntary for businesses. In the future, however, electronic transport information may become mandatory for certain types of transport operations.

Electronic transport information is transferred between businesses and competent authorities through eFTI gates. In Finland, Fintraffic is implementing the eFTI gate as well as the necessary development, testing, and messaging services for businesses and enforcement authorities.

eFTI Platform: An eFTI platform is a certified company system containing eFTI functionalities and used to manage transport information. A business may develop its own eFTI platform or purchase it as a service from an eFTI service provider. The platform must be certified.

eFTI Gate: An eFTI gateway transmits information requests from authorities to companies and sends responses back to the authorities.

Competent Authority: An enforcement authority requests legally required transport information during inspections and control activities.

What Is Electronic Freight Transport Information (eFTI)?

eFTI covers legally required information accompanying freight transported by rail, road, air, and inland waterways within the European Union.

eFTI does not change the information requirements imposed on businesses. eFTI data consists of existing legally required transport information in electronic format. The change concerns the format, availability, and sharing of information, rather than the content itself.

All legally required transport information across the EU has been consolidated into a single regulation Ulkoinen verkkopalvelu., which forms the basis of the eFTI data model Ulkoinen verkkopalvelu..

A company using eFTI can provide electronically:

  • information required in consignment notes for international transport
  • information required for the rail and road transport of dangerous goods
  • information required for combined transport operations
  • information required for cabotage transport operations
  • country-specific information requirements of Member States

The eFTI data model also includes information needed for transport emissions calculations, such as the mode of transport, transport route, and cargo weight.

Explore eFTI information requirements in the Commission's GEFEG service Ulkoinen verkkopalvelu..

Explore eFTI information requirements on the Suomi.fi Interoperability Platform Ulkoinen verkkopalvelu..

What Does eFTI Mean for Businesses in Practice?

eFTI removes barriers to the digitalization of transport chains. Authorities are required to accept electronic transport information, and a common standard is available for data exchange between transport chain participants.

To begin submitting electronic transport information, a company needs an eFTI platform.

A company may develop an eFTI platform itself or purchase one as a service from an eFTI service provider. The platform must be certified.

Platform services can significantly simplify the transition to digital transport chains, especially for small transport companies. Service providers must also be certified.

The adoption of eFTI remains voluntary for businesses. Legally required transport information may still be presented to authorities on paper or in another electronic format accepted by the relevant Member State.

eFTI and CMR

In international road transport, the use of a CMR consignment note is mandatory. Transport companies use CMR with their customers to document the receipt, carriage, and delivery of goods. An electronic version, eCMR, may be used for the same purpose.

The purpose of the CMR is to provide proof of the transport contract and delivery. It is also an important enforcement tool and is used outside the EU as well. eFTI does not replace eCMR.

eFTI is voluntary for businesses. It enables authorities to verify transport information electronically without paper documents and focuses on the information needs of regulatory inspections within the European Union.

Both eFTI and CMR:

  • digitalize transport information
  • reduce paper-based processes
  • improve data quality
  • support international transport chains
  • enable automation and system integrations

In Practice, a Company Can Use:

  • only CMR or eCMR
  • only eFTI
  • both together

In practice, a CMR document can be generated from eFTI data, and eFTI information can similarly be generated from CMR data. Today, EU competent authorities may accept eCMR during inspections when it is presented through a driver's user interface.

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