Last month, the United Kingdom became the twenty-fourth country to ratify the e-CMR protocol, the digital version of the United Nations Convention for the carriage of goods via road. Offering lower costs, faster administrative processes and greater transparency, e-CMR is an ideal solution to facilitating truck movements between the UK and the EU after Brexit.
¡°The UK¡¯s decision to ratify the e-CMR protocol results from the joint advocacy efforts of ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½together with its UK members, the Freight Transport Association and the Road Haulage Association. This move comes at a crucial moment and will go a long way towards overcoming the potential barriers to trade arising from Brexit. The implementation of e-CMR will allow the road transport sector to continue doing what it does best ¨C serving businesses and communities,¡± commented Matthias Maedge, Director of Advocacy at IRU.
The e-CMR protocol enables transport operators and drivers to use an electronic version of the traditionally paper-based CMR consignment note. Users benefit from significantly reduced administration costs, huge time savings and increased supply chain visibility, with real-time insights available for all business partners.
As part of its overall strategy to move towards paperless road transport, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½will continue to work closely with its members to ensure that the road transport sector reaps the benefits of e-CMR, as fast as possible and on a global scale.