Why Are the Two Systems Confused?
In recent months, the same question has appeared in different variations, from clients and partners: "since when is the electronic CMR mandatory?" The question itself is formulated incorrectly, and this is precisely what generates the confusion.
People are lumping together two completely different systems: the e-CMR, a digital transport document that circulates between private parties, and RO e-Transport, a fiscal monitoring system administered by ANAF. The confusion costs real money, because company resources end up being misallocated - time and budget invested where there is still no sanction, while the real risk remains untreated.
e-CMR vs RO e-Transport - Direct Comparison
| Criterion | e-CMR | EN e-Transport |
|---|---|---|
| Administrator | Private parties (carrier, shipper) | swirl |
| Legal status in 2026 | optional | Mandatory from January 1, 2026 |
| Scope | Digital transport document | Fiscal monitoring |
| Legal framework | e-CMR Protocol (2019) + eFTI Regulation 2020/1056 | OPANAF 802/2022 |
| Penalty for non-compliance | No sanctions yet | Fine 20,000 - 100,000 lei + risk of confiscation |
| Relevant term | July 9, 2027 (mandatory acceptance by the authorities) | Already in force |
The Real e-CMR Is Not Yet Mandatory
Romania joined the e-CMR Protocol in 2019, but until July 2026 its actual use in the Romanian market remains minimal. There is no functional national e-CMR platform and there is no legal obligation to force the abandonment of the paper document.
At the European level, the eFTI Regulation (2020/1056) sets a clear timetable: from January 2026 digital platforms can start preparing for operation, but only from July 9, 2027 will the authorities in the Member States be obliged to accept transport documents in electronic format. The European Commission will only assess in 2029 whether to impose full obligation on the entire industry.
So, waiting for an obligation for e-CMR this year is in vain - no one is imposing it yet. The paper CMR, in 3 original copies, remains the legally valid document.
RO e-Transport: Here the Sanctions Are Real
RO e-Transport, administered by ANAF, has become mandatory from January 1, 2026 for the transport of goods with high tax risk and for international transport.
The mechanism is simple to describe, but strict in implementation: for each targeted transport, a UIT code is generated through the ANAF platform, it is transmitted to the carrier, and the driver enters it into the mobile application at the beginning of the journey. Without the UIT code presented at the control, the transport is not legal.
The fine for not presenting the UIT code is between 20,000 and 100,000 lei. In more serious cases, it can lead to the confiscation of the value of the undeclared goods.
Being a relatively new system, UNTRR has already reported real technical problems: the mobile application crashes when there is no GPS or GSM signal, inconsistencies appear between official guides and legislation, and frequent situations in the field - such as changing trailers en route - are not yet clearly regulated.
How Much Does the Confusion Between the Two Systems Actually Cost?
If a company prepares for e-CMR and ignores RO e-Transport, the real risk is a fine between 20,000 and 100,000 lei for a single improper transport, plus the risk of confiscation of the goods. If, on the contrary, priority goes to RO e-Transport and e-CMR is left for later, nothing is lost - because there is still no sanction related to not using e-CMR.
This does not mean that digitalization should be ignored, but that resources - time, budget, team training - should be allocated in the real order of risk, not in the order in which the terms appear in the industry.
Companies that started registering in SPV and training drivers early, before January 1, quietly passed the first month of application. Those that waited until the last week had traffic jams, trucks detained for clarifications and, in some cases, fines that could have been avoided with two days of preparation in advance.