The entire Spanish supply chain supports the implementation of the Digital Transport Document

Last week, the fourth meeting of the Spanish ETD working group was set up to analyze the situation of the digitization of transport in Spain and design the necessary actions to promote the use of electronic documentation.

 

This group is made up of eleven supply chain associations (Shippers, Carriers, Freight Forwarders), five-port authorities, and ten technology platforms (TransFollow among them) representing more than 300.000 companies that are convinced of the need to tackle these technological tools, not only to eliminate paper but also for the innumerable advantages that the system offers in terms of cost, efficiency, and transparency in the management of the transport of goods.

 

The current health crisis from COVID-19 and the outbreaks that are happening demonstrates the importance of digital solutions in the logistics chain, backed by the EU recommendations for the Member States to abandon the role and fully adopt the digital exchange of transportation information.

 

 

The working group aims to position the Spanish cargo and transport industry at the head of Europe, with a view to the entry into force of the new legal framework proposed by the EU, so that companies provide the authorities with information on transportation in digital format.

 

The meeting also addressed other issues such as the effects of roadside inspection, the possibility of establishing aid or incentives for the integration of DET in SME management systems, or the need for specific training in this area.  Finally, it was agreed to prepare and distribute a questionnaire intended to collect information on the main reasons that are holding back the development of the TED.

 

With the ratification of Norway and Ukraine, there are already 27 countries that are formally committed to the implementation of the digital consingment note. The ratification of the protocol by Norway, the country that will soon make the use of the e-CMR mandatory, completes coverage in Scandinavia, while Ukraine’s accession to the eCMR is strategic, as it connects Europe’s cargo corridors from Finland, the Baltic countries, Poland and Ukraine, to Romania and Bulgaria, even reaching Turkey.

 

The group will continue in September the work to promote the use of electronic transport documentation, as a critical tool to improve costs, efficiency and security of transport and logistics.

 

All involved parties: