UNECE welcomes the launch of ECMT Digital System to modernise road transport

Paris, 5 December 2025

UNECE participated in the launch of the ECMT Digital System, a landmark initiative by the International Transport Forum (ITF) that will introduce the first fully digital system for ECMT licences in 2026. This marks a major modernisation of road transport administration across 43 ECMT member countries.

For the first time in the system’s 50-year history, annual licences will no longer be printed and distributed on paper. Around 100,000 licence documents previously issued each year will now be delivered entirely digitally.

The new ECMT Digital System will strengthen transparency, prevent counterfeiting, improve compliance, and make checks faster and more reliable at borders. It will also centralise data securely, ensuring strong protection of sensitive information while increasing operational efficiency for hauliers, enforcement authorities, and national administrations alike.

This achievement aligns fully with UNECE’s ongoing work on computerisation initiatives such as eTIR, eCMR, and eCPD, which aim to simplify cross-border transport and enhance interoperability. UNECE’s contribution at the event highlighted the importance of harmonised standards and international cooperation. It further underlined that additional benefits will be reaped from synergies between digital systems, paving the way for smarter, more integrated transport solutions.