On 22 May 2025, the Italian national pilot was officialy launched in Verona to trial the use of eFTI in a live cross-border operation. The pilot was coordinated by the Italian Ministry of Transport with the support of RAM and Circle, all partners in the eFTI4EU project. The initiative tested a road transport operation between Italy and Austria and included checks conducted by the Italian police.
Two logistics operators participated in the pilot: Scortrans and Codognotto. Both companies used a pilot version of the national eFTI platform known as the “eFTI Gate Italy“—a system designed to connect seamlessly with the wider EU network of eFTI platforms. Thanks to this infrastructure, authorities were able to access and verify the digital transport documentation in real-time. This demonstrated the feasibility of replacing traditional paper-based documents with their electronic equivalents—secure, reliable, and structured. The test also included the digital version of the consignment note (the e-CMR), which is seen as a key enabler for improving efficiency and traceability in the logistics sector.
A broader rollout to follow
The Verona pilot is not a stand-alone event. It marks the beginning of a broader rollout, with more routes and operators to be included in future phases. This progressive national and cross-border expansion is expected to help pave the way for the full implementation of the eFTI Regulation in Italy and beyond.
For Circle, which served as the technical partner for the pilot, the initiative is a strong validation of the value of digital innovation in logistics. In this regard, CEO Luca Abatello emphasised that “contributing to the implementation of the e-CMR and collaborating with the Ministry of Transports and RAM reinforces Italy’s active role in adopting the eFTI Regulation“.
A major milestone for digital freight in Europe
The pilot in Verona demonstrated how eFTI benefits can be realised in practice. It also highlighted Italy’s commitment to being at the forefront of Europe’s digital transformation in freight transport.
More pilots and demonstrations are expected in the coming months as Italy continues to build momentum in the adoption of eFTI. The eFTI4EU project will remain a key driver of this transition, providing the tools and support needed to help Member States, operators, and technology providers align with the new regulatory framework.
