Montenegro is moving forward with the introduction of the electronic consignment note (e-CMR) for international road freight transport — a digital version of the traditional paper waybill used in cross-border trucking. The government has adopted a bill to ratify the additional protocol to the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR) that allows the use of e-CMR.
Under the new system, the electronic consignment note will have the same legal force as a paper document, but will be created, transmitted and managed digitally. This change is expected to speed up the processing of transport documents, reduce administrative burdens and cut costs for carriers engaged in international road freight.
Officials say e-CMR will help simplify border crossings by enabling quicker document checks and electronic verification, replacing the current practice of exchanging physical paperwork at customs and checkpoints. They also see it as an important step toward full digitalisation of transport documentation and logistics operations in Montenegro, boosting efficiency and competitive position for domestic carriers in international markets.
International experience indicates that digital consignment notes can significantly reduce transport costs and time spent on administrative procedures, while improving real-time tracking, data accuracy and transparency across the supply chain. The shift to e-CMR is part of broader regional and European trends toward paperless logistics and greater harmonisation of transport rules.
