The eCMR software from the Open Logistics Foundation is a development by companies, for companies. 28 members of the Open Logistics Foundation have advanced, tested, and validated the software as part of the Working Group “Electronic Transport Documents” and its associated project “eCMR”. The Open Logistics Foundation supported the project procedurally in its role as a non-profit organisation and safeguarded it with technical and legal expertise. The origin of the project lies in an initiative by the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML.
The new eCMR software is legally compliant, interoperable, and suitable for companies of all sizes and industries. The use of a standardised eCMR data model enables the exchange of eCMR documents via federated platforms. This requires neither a central authority nor a mediator or broker: Every company and organisation can become part of the network. For signing and validating eCMR documents at the company level, the software uses advanced electronic seals.
“The eCMR software, developed by member companies of the Open Logistics Foundation, provides the much-needed foundation for the digital and efficient organisation of international freight transport,” explains Andreas Nettsträter, CEO of the Open Logistics Foundation. “The success factor for the new open source standard is the community. For such so-called commodities, companies still develop their own solutions far too often, instead of bundling their resources with other companies within the Open Logistics Foundation.” In addition to Nettsträter, Markus Sandbrink, CIO Rhenus, Stefan Hohm, CDO Dachser, Robert Recknagel, Head of Operations Blue Yonder, and Reiner Sailer, Lead Service Owner SupplyChainServices Markant, participated in the press conference at transport logistic 2025. Following the proof of concept at the end of 2023 on two transport routes between Rhenus and Dachser, the industry-ready eCMR software has now been rolled out in two joint use cases. The logistics service providers Dachser and Rhenus collaborated with Markant and Blue Yonder.
Learn more about the OLF-eCMR solution here eCMR – the new open source standard | Open Logistics Foundation.
