EFTI4EU and Europe’s Digital Freight Revolution: What EU Freight Transport Can Learn from North America’s eBOL Movement

The digital transformation of freight is underway on both sides of the Atlantic—and while Europe is making regulatory strides with its new eFTI4EU initiative, North America has been laying the groundwork unofficially for years with shippers, carriers, and receivers adopting an electronic bill of lading (eBOL). At Vector, we’re proud to be at the forefront of this shift, which started during the COVID pandemic, and we are already delivering the kind of paperless freight processes that Europe’s Regulation EU 2020/1056 is working toward.

What is eFTI4EU?

Launched as the first EU-wide project to implement Electronic Freight Transport Information (eFTI), eFTI4EU is co-funded by the European Union through its CEF program. Its mission is clear: create a harmonized, interoperable digital environment across all EU member states for the paperless exchange of freight transport data.

The goals are ambitious:

• Eliminate paper documents in freight.
• Enable authorities to accept digital compliance information by 2027.
• Improve operational efficiency, transparency, and cross-border collaboration.
• Promote environmental sustainability and reduce administrative overhead.

eFTI4EU is mandatory for EU authorities but voluntary for economic operators, which echoes the early stages of eBOL implementation in North America, where businesses began to go paperless with eBOL adoption before regulations were in place.

“Efficient freight transport is crucial for the Union’s economic strength—but dependence on paper makes processes inefficient.”

eFTI4EU General Presentation

Why It Matters for Freight Transport Digitization in Europe

The significance of eFTI4EU goes beyond policy—it represents a significant step forward in Europe’s freight transport digitization journey. By moving toward standardized digital documentation, EU nations can streamline logistics, reduce operational delays, and enable seamless cross-border freight movement. This shift also opens the door to enhanced freight visibility, data-driven planning, and tighter integration with freight visibility platforms already transforming logistics in other regions. For European shippers, embracing eFTI is about future-proofing operations and staying competitive in a rapidly digitizing global supply chain.

eBOL in North America today

While eFTI4EU is charting the path for digital freight documents in the EU in 2027, Vector has already deployed the future in North America, and it’s live and working across networks today.

eBOL, fully digital:

BOL Scanning with Yard Management Software:

With solutions like our eBOL, we’ve addressed many of the same challenges eFTI4EU hopes to solve, particularly when it comes to improving freight visibility and operational efficiency:

• No more paperwork: Digital bills of lading that stay with the shipment and reduce costly administrative cycles.
• Real-time visibility: Data updates as freight moves, not after the fact, giving clearer insight and faster decision-making.
• Faster inspections and less disruption: Carriers and authorities spend less time exchanging information and more time in motion.
• Safety and compliance built in: Digital documentation ensures better accuracy, tracking, and emergency response readiness.

We’ve even tackled the nuanced challenges of standardization and interoperability. As we outlined in our eBOL standards guide, digital transformation only works if the entire ecosystem—shippers, carriers, 3PLs, and regulators—can access and exchange data in a consistent format. To do this, integration and offering point solutions are critical for eBOL adoption.

Five Key Lessons from eBOL Deployment: Improving Freight Visibility and Digital Adoption

Digitizing a freight document, such as a bill of lading or CMR, in isolation is a relatively easy task. The challenge is weaving it into operational practices so it doesn’t become another exception process that must be managed by already stretched-thin staff. As European shippers start to work towards the digital BOL and CMR, here are five key points of adoption that will be needed:

1. Facility check-in is a natural trigger for digital documents. Implementing a digital check-in solution that connects directly to digital BOLs and CMRs documents will deliver the adoption rates you expect.
2. Driver workflows must include digital steps. Telematics platforms typically support detailed driver workflows—embedding digital document handling into those flows increases adoption and compliance.
3. Connectivity across subcontractors is essential. In cases involving W sub-contracting or “brokering,” it is important to have connectivity between the operating companies moving the freight.
4. Prepare for mixed paper and digital environments. Paper BOLs and CMRs often include handwritten notes or multilingual fields.  Use OCR and AI for image extraction and indexing to manage both formats during the transition phase. 
5. Account for market fragmentation. The trucking market is highly fragmented in the United States and Europe. As you launch your pilots, start with dedicated fleets or frequent flyer drivers; the long tail of carriers will require change management, flexible integration, and a physical station, such as a kiosk or check-in desk, to force adoption.

Building Digital Freight Infrastructure with Interoperability

Interoperability isn’t a feature—it’s a foundation. Successful freight visibility platforms depend on seamless data exchange between shippers, carriers, brokers, and regulators. Standardizing formats, enabling API connectivity, and aligning operational workflows are critical to ensuring digital freight solutions like eBOL can scale across fragmented networks and regulatory jurisdictions.

Paperless Freight Transport: Why Compliance with EFTI and eBOL is the Future

The freight industry isn’t just evolving—it’s being reshaped by necessity. From pandemic disruptions to environmental regulations, the logistics sector must be faster, wiser, and more resilient. Paper slows that down and can’t be reported on with all of the high horsepower data intelligence platforms companies have invested in.

eFTI4EU is the EU’s commitment to a future of digital freight, and it sets an important precedent for regulatory leadership. However, the private sector—especially in North America—doesn’t have to wait for legislation to act. With freight fraud and cargo theft at record levels, protecting supply chains is critical to protecting the brand and the network.

As we’ve said before in our blog on going contactless, eBOLs are just the beginning. The real value lies in creating connected systems that empower everyone in the supply chain—from warehouse workers to compliance officers—with reliable, real-time data.

Bridging Global Digital Freight Standards: Aligning with EFTI and Freight Visibility Platforms

Whether shipping within Texas or across borders in the Netherlands, the fundamentals remain the same: freight moves faster and more securely with digital information. Initiatives like eFTI4EU offer inspiration—and validation—for what Vector and our partners build daily.

As the eFTI4EU timeline pushes toward 2027, we’ll be watching closely—and sharing what we’ve learned to help global freight systems evolve with greater speed and eficiency. We aim to support a more connected, collaborative future through real-time data and standardized workflows.

At Vector, we believe the future isn’t just paperless—it’s powered by integrated technology. That’s why our freight visibility platform helps logistics teams eliminate blind spots, streamline compliance, and improve coordination across the supply chain.

Want to learn how Vector’s logistics workflow platform can transform your logistics network? Explore our Electronic Bill of Lading Knowledge Hub or talk to our team to get started.