Spanish shippers and hauliers should embrace digitalization says TransFollow

Digital pioneer TransFollow’s Hans Lip calls on Spanish hauliers to embrace digitalization early, as Spain’s Sustainable Mobility Law will make mandatory electronic documentation inevitable

Spanish shippers and haulers are being urged by Hans Lip, Chief Operating Officer (COO), TransFollow, to act now and turn an inevitable legal change into a competitive advantage.

Spain’s Sustainable Mobility Law will make the digitalization of road transport unavoidable, according to Lip.

Even if the proposed legislation is returned, the Ministry of Transport is expected to enforce digital documentation through decree, making the shift to electronic consignment note (e-CMR) inevitable.

“The pressure faced by hauliers, who often operate in a low-margin environment, is clear, but the inevitable digitalization of CMRs and/or consignment notes under the Sustainable Mobility Law will bring widespread opportunities for those who adopt early," said Hans Lip, COO, TransFollow.

“Beyond e-CMR, early tech adopters can take advantage of real-time visibility with more accurate arrival time estimates, Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking, transport data, and quick exceptions handling to improve planning, reduce waiting times, and build trust between haulers and their customers.”

The Sustainable Mobility Law will align Spain with the European Union’s eFTI Regulation, which is planned to come into force by 2027 and requires all member states to accept electronic freight information.

According to the International Road Transport Union (IRU), fewer than one per cent of the 280 million international CMR operations conducted annually are currently digital, demonstrating the scale of opportunity for early adopters across Europe’s road transport industry.

“The efficiencies brought about by digitization will far outweigh the impact of initial investment and help create a more resilient and competitive industry,” said Lip.

“By embracing electronic documentation and real-time communication ahead of enforcement, both shippers and carriers will improve efficiency, cut delays, and strengthen relationships with their customers.”

TransFollow works closely with both national and international associations covering the interests of shippers and transport operators.

Its objective remains the acceleration of the transition from paper to digital freight to enable a paperless, standardized, and interoperable logistics ecosystem across Europe, which cuts costs, increases transparency, and reduce administration.