Is eFTI mandatory for me as a carrier?
Adopted 2026-06-14 · ≈ 1 min read · 
edited by Dirk Baaijen
eFTI does not force you to go digital, but it requires authorities to accept electronic freight information from 9 July 2027. Paper is still allowed, but digital-first becomes the norm. What that means in practice for carriers, forwarders and shippers.
Short answer: not in the way you might think. eFTI does not require you to digitise your freight information. It requires the government to accept electronic freight information when you provide it — from 9 July 2027.
What the duty actually means
The acceptance duty falls on the competent authorities (roadside checks, customs, inspectorates). If you provide statutory freight information electronically via a certified eFTI platform, they may no longer demand a paper original. Paper remains allowed; you are not forced to switch.
Why you'll want it anyway
- Time saved at checks — no hunting for paper, instant digital
verification.
- Fewer errors and less admin across the chain.
- The market is moving — clients and platforms increasingly ask for
digital. Those who are ready have an edge.
What to do
- Determine which statutory freight information you currently provide on paper.
- Explore whether your supplier/platform will support eFTI-compliant
electronic submission.
- Plan the switch before 9 July 2027 — not because you must, but because it
pays off.
Read the main file: eFTI: electronic freight information becomes the norm. Or take the Transport & Logistics scan.
Sources
- https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/1056/oj
Regulation (EU) 2020/1056 (eFTI): authorities must accept electronic freight information from 9 July 2027, via certified platforms.
Read next
What is the common eFTI data set?
The common eFTI data set is the EU-standardised collection of data fields for statutory freight information, detailed through implementing acts. It lets authorities accept electronic freight data uniformly from 9 July 2027.
eFTI and dangerous goods (ADR): what changes?
Under eFTI (Regulation (EU) 2020/1056), ADR freight information is also covered. From 9 July 2027, authorities must accept it electronically via certified platforms. Paper remains allowed. What this means for transporting dangerous goods.
Data Act, eFTI or both: what affects my data flows?
Short: these are two different data flows. The Data Act covers data from connected products (vehicle, sensor, machine data); eFTI covers submitting statutory freight documents to authorities electronically. Both can apply to you at once.