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On 22 July 2025, the Benelux Committee of Ministers confirmed the extension of the long-running pilot project on electronic consignment notes (eCMR) within Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. First launched on 1 December 2017 and prolonged once in 2020, the initiative was due to expire on 20 August 2025. With the latest decision, the project will remain in force until 9 July 2027, securing the continued legal recognition of digital consignment notes for cross-border transport across the three countries.

The announcement represents an important step for carriers and logistics service providers in the region, as it ensures continuity during a crucial transition period toward EU-wide adoption of electronic freight documentation. The extension also closely aligns with the forthcoming implementation of Regulation (EU) 2020/1056 on electronic freight transport information (eFTI), which will provide a harmonised legal framework for competent authorities to access and process digital freight data across the EU. By synchronising regional and European timelines, the Benelux countries reaffirm their role as frontrunners in the digitalisation of road freight transport.

To take advantage of this framework, companies must ensure that their digital solutions are compliant with the Additional Protocol to the CMR Convention on eCMR, which sets strict requirements for legal validity, data integrity, and system interoperability. To date, 38 countries have ratified the protocol, paving the way for broader use of eCMR in international transport operations. A growing number of states are now moving beyond voluntary use: Spain is considering making eCMR mandatory as of 2026, signalling a wider European shift toward digital-first documentation in road freight.  Despite this momentum, eight countries have yet to ratify the eCMR protocol.