Home › eFTI 2027 guide
eFTI 2027, guide for logistics

eFTI: what changes on 9 July 2027 for your logistics operation?

From 9 July 2027, control authorities must be able to accept electronic freight information. Not a hard obligation for hauliers on that date, but the direction is clear. The real preparation starts at your order desk: does your data come in correct and structured today?

See the timeline ↓ Take the self-test
Source: EU Regulation 2020/1056 (eFTI) · Last updated: 4 June 2026
Timeline

From publication to deadline, and what comes after.

Six moments that decide what your business looks like on both sides of 9 July 2027.

2020 · August
eFTI regulation published

The EU lays the basis for electronic exchange of freight information between businesses and authorities.

For your business: no direct obligation yet, but the direction is set.
2024 – 2026
Member states and platforms keep building

Governments, TMS/WMS vendors and platform players work on the technical infrastructure.

For your business: ask your TMS/WMS vendor for their roadmap. No clear answer is a risk.
2026 · April
Technical standards take shape

The rules for how eFTI data is exchanged become more concrete.

For your business: it's not only whether your data is digital that counts, but how structured it is.
2026 – 2027
Shippers ask for more structured data

Larger customers increasingly want to know how good your data housekeeping is: order data, audit log, export options and error control.

For your business: those who structure their order desk now stand stronger in tenders.
2027 · 9 July, THE DEADLINE
eFTI becomes operational

Control authorities must be able to accept electronic freight information.

Important: you don't automatically get a fine for not yet working digitally. But companies with their data in order work faster, more professionally and more reliably.
2028 +
Digital freight data becomes the norm

Shippers, hauliers, forwarders and control bodies increasingly exchange data digitally.

For your business: structured order data becomes a competitive advantage.
8-point self-test

How eFTI-ready are you today?

Eight concrete questions. Count how many "ready" you already have. Score interpretation below.

01

Data completeness at intake

Do orders come in digitally, or still via scan, fax or paper?

Ready when: ≥ 95% of your shipper orders arrive in machine-readable form (text PDF, Excel, mail, EDI, portal export).
02

Structured system export

Can your system export order data in a structured way?

Ready when: your TMS/WMS vendor offers or has committed to an eFTI-compatible export module before Q1 2027.
03

Field mapping to eFTI schema

Do you know which fields are needed for freight-data exchange?

Ready when: you have a one-to-one mapping document, in place or in progress, with your TMS/WMS vendor or integrator.
04

Retention + audit log

Do you have a clear trail of entry, changes and checks per order?

Ready when: every order has a timestamped event log, archivable and retrievable.
05

Accessibility for control authorities

Can you make your data quickly available during an inspection?

Ready when: your order desk has an eFTI platform account (coming to market 2026–2027) and can grant token-based access to authorities.
06

Electronic signatures

Do you work with reliable electronic documents and signatures?

Ready when: your order desk no longer accepts "PDF with scanned signature", only eIDAS-compliant signatures.
07

B2B exchange with shippers

Can you exchange data with shippers without a manual step in between?

Ready when: your system has an API or platform connector that can push order data out in eFTI format, without an export-and-email step.
08

Using the commercial tailwind

Do you already use structured data as a commercial argument?

Ready when: your sales deck, your website and your tender annexes carry "eFTI-2027 data-ready" as a trust mark, with substantiation.
0 / 8
At risk
Tick above what you already have ready today.

Score interpretation

7 – 8
Gold
5 – 6
On track
3 – 4
Behind
0 – 2
At risk

Get the checklist as a PDF

Want to bring this self-test to a meeting or your TMS/WMS vendor? Get it as one PDF, with score table and concrete next steps.

You get the checklist in your inbox + one follow-up email. No newsletter, no reselling.
✓ Thanks, we are sending the checklist to your inbox now. Nothing within a few minutes? Check your spam folder.
What we do

We don't build an eFTI platform. We make sure your order data is right.

Your TMS/WMS vendor or an eFTI platform will later provide the link to official exchange. But that link only has value if the data in your system is correct and complete. LaneDesk makes sure orders from email, PDF and Excel are processed correctly and land structured in your existing system. That way you don't start a data problem in 2027 that actually already exists today.

That's where we come in.

We take over your order desk as a managed service. Shipper emails, PDFs and Excel attachments are read, validated and entered structured into your existing system, Transpas, Cofano, Soloplan, Akanea, or even AS400. When eFTI goes live in 2027, export to eFTI platforms is a vendor button in your system, not a rebuild project.

Put differently: you're already moving forward while your competitors are still building. And your shippers see that in tenders.

Request a tailored estimate → Read our service
FAQ

Four questions we get most often.

Will I be fined if I'm not eFTI-ready on 9 July 2027? +
No. The eFTI regulation (EU 2020/1056) obliges public authorities to accept eFTI data, not market actors to deliver it. But shippers and forwarders will expect structured data in tenders from 2026–2027, and those who already work in a structured way win those tenders.
Which data must I be able to deliver via eFTI? +
The regulation defines mandatory data elements such as consignor, consignee, waybill number, cargo description, weight, route, pickup and delivery location, date, carrier, means of transport and related permits. The full technical schema is delivered through Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1267.
Does eFTI also apply to inland waterways or rail? +
Yes. eFTI covers all commercial transport modes (road, rail, inland waterways, maritime, air). The legal deadline of 9 July 2027 applies to all modes, but the practical implementation differs per sector and member state.
Do I need to replace my system (TMS or WMS) to be eFTI-ready? +
In most cases, no. Existing TMS systems (Transpas, Cofano, Soloplan, Akanea, AS400) will get eFTI export modules via their vendors. What is critical: your order data must already be structured in the system today, otherwise conversion to eFTI format is unfeasible.

Sources