eFTI: Electronic Exchange of Freight Transport Information

Short answer: Regulation (EU) 2020/1056 (eFTI) enables shippers, carriers, and freight forwarders to share regulatory freight information electronically with enforcement authorities across the EU. Use of certified eFTI platforms is required for this purpose. From 9 July 2027, Member States are obliged to accept that digital information at roadside checks and other inspections — paper documents remain permitted alongside digital equivalents until that date.

What the Regulation Covers

Regulation (EU) 2020/1056, adopted on 15 July 2020 and published in Official Journal L 249 of 31 July 2020, entered into force on 20 August 2020 and applies from 21 August 2024. The regulation covers seven existing EU legal acts in the areas of inland navigation, intermodal transport, road haulage, waste shipments, dangerous goods, rail interoperability, and aviation security. Its scope extends to all EU transport modes: road, rail, inland waterways, and air.

Economic operators are not obliged to switch to electronic exchange. When they do so, they must use a certified eFTI platform and — where applicable — a certified eFTI service provider. Data must be made available in machine-readable format; upon request from the competent authority, also in human-readable format.

Certification and Implementing Acts

National accreditation bodies in Member States are responsible for accrediting conformity assessment bodies, which in turn certify eFTI platforms and service providers. Three implementing acts entered into force on 9 January 2025:

• Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2024 (26 July 2024) — establishes the common eFTI data set and data subsets.
• Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2025 (15 July 2024) — amends Annex I Part B of the base regulation.
• Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1942 (5 July 2024) — lays down procedures for access to and processing of electronic freight transport information by competent authorities.

The Commission has indicated it will adopt the remaining technical specifications for certification and business IT systems during 2025–2026.

Timeline and Implications for Operators

Date	Milestone
21 August 2024	Regulation becomes applicable
9 January 2025	First three implementing acts enter into force
January 2026	eFTI platforms and service providers may become operational; Member States may accept certified data
9 July 2027	Full application date: Member States must accept electronic freight information

From July 2027, competent authorities across the EU — including at roadside checks — must accept regulatory information shared electronically via certified eFTI platforms. Operators choosing to go digital must ensure their systems connect to a certified platform and that the data presented matches the required data subsets established in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2024. Those not yet ready may continue using paper documents, but the competitive and operational benefits of digital exchange — faster inspections, lower administrative burden — create a practical incentive to act well ahead of the mandatory deadline.