Standardization of transport in international networks – challenges and solutions
Managing transport in distributed international networks remains one of the most serious challenges of modern forwarding. In the era of supply chain globalization, forwarders operating in many countries face numerous problems resulting from the lack of standardization. Distributed systems, inconsistent data formats or separate waybills in each location create a costly and error-prone ecosystem.
- The fragmentation of TMS systems and carrier databases is one of the main barriers to effective international forwarding.
- Differences between countries, e.g. in e-CMR, generate additional costs and difficulties.
- Digital integration platforms allow optimizing international routes, automating processes, and centralizing databases.
- Companies that have implemented comprehensive standards can achieve a margin increase of up to 30% and improve carrier retention.
- Thanks to standardization, order handling time is reduced by 50-75% and compliance procedures accelerate by up to half.
Table of contents
Distributed networks = costs and errors
The fragmentation of transport systems remains one of the biggest barriers to effective management of international freight forwarding networks. Each branch operates based on its own tools, processes, and contacts, leading to duplicated efforts and wasted resources. This situation not only complicates daily work but also poses risks to the security of the entire supply chain.
Implementing consistent transport standards at the international level faces not only technological barriers but also legislative and procedural ones that vary by country. For example, while the electronic consignment note (e-CMR) is gaining popularity, its acceptance and legal enforceability still differ among EU member states, forcing forwarders to use traditional paper documents in parallel for many relations.
Another example is invoicing. Local regulations regarding VAT, settlement currencies, or cost accounting methods may require the use of different ERP systems and generate additional integration points. The lack of unified APIs between TMS systems and the financial-accounting systems of individual countries significantly increases the cost of implementing standardization.
Data security issues, in turn, are subject to different legal requirements, e.g., German BDSG and general GDPR, requiring a varied approach to storing information about loads, carriers, and routes.
All these differences, although seemingly technical, directly affect the operations of forwarders. For freight forwarding companies, this means the need to implement platforms that not only enable standardization but also offer integration flexibility and adaptation to local business realities.
Benefits of process standardization
Standardization in logistics is not an option today, but a necessity. It is a prerequisite for scaling transport in global supply chains.
Key areas of standardization include:
- loading and unloading procedures,
- labeling of logistic units,
- exception handling,
- data formats and APIs.
Companies that have implemented comprehensive logistics standards can achieve up to a 30% increase in margin and a competitive advantage leading to up to a 30% increase in the customer portfolio thanks to flexible management of transport capacities.
The role of platforms in transport standardization
Modern transport management platforms offer not only basic functionalities of route planning and carrier management, but also advanced capabilities for optimizing international routes. These systems can analyze multiple combinations of routes, transport modes and schedules, taking into account differences in regulations on driver working hours, weekend restrictions, fluctuations in fuel costs, and local holidays and days off.
Solutions enabling digital integration with a wide ecosystem of carriers operating in different countries are of particular value.
An example of a solution that meets the needs of standardization in international transport networks is the CargoON platform. The system offers access to more than 21,000 verified spot carriers across the Union, providing greater coverage of transport capacity.
Particularly valuable are the functionalities that optimize transport operations within a single or between multiple branches, significantly improving the flow of information about loads and orders between forwarders and dispatchers. The system allows for combining partial loads and rational selection of subcontractors in terms of margin within own or external fleet.
Benefits of transport standardization
The key benefits of standardizing transport processes on a common platform include:
- Unified freight publication
Instead of maintaining separate systems for each branch, shippers can use a single platform to publish freight offers. This allows for quick sending of orders to carriers from different countries, eliminating the need to manually re-enter data between systems.
- Centralization of the carrier base
A shared subcontractor base allows the use of proven carriers from one region to handle routes in different locations. This is especially important in the context of optimizing empty runs and combining partial loads between branches.
- Automation of verification processes
Standardization of compliance processes allows for uniform verification of carriers regardless of the country of operation. Thanks to automated procedures, the verification time can be reduced by up to 50 percent.
In summary, standardization of processes in road transport allows for improved transport management by unifying the processes of allocating loads to carriers and tracking individual trucks on one platform – regardless of location, language or team structure. Thanks to this, new branches are implemented faster and the operation of forwarders is consistent and error-free.
4 scenarios for the future of road transport digitalization (based on Sweden)
A study conducted in Sweden in 2020 developed four scenarios showing how digitalization could change road transport by 2040. Each scenario is based on two key uncertainties
- Will the primary goal be climate protection and emission reduction? If so, digitalization and standardization will be driven by environmental requirements. If not, economic considerations and cost efficiency will be more important.
- Will the industry operate under old, rigid rules or in open collaboration based on data exchange? In the first case, central regulations and hierarchical management models will dominate. In the second, flexible partnerships and open digital platforms where all market participants have access to the same information.
Scenarios for the future of road transport digitalization:
Scenario 1. Social Engineering 2.0
Transport and logistics are strictly regulated by the state and international institutions. Central solutions and top-down standards dominate. The goal is to reduce emissions, but the development of innovation depends on political and regulatory decisions.
Scenario 2. Green Circle
The priority is the circular economy and ecology. Road transport operates fully within the logic of sustainable development. There is a strong emphasis on recycling, return transport, and emission reduction. Digital standardization (e.g., uniform documents and systems) is necessary to handle the growing number of secondary material flows.
Scenario 3. Partnership Society
Relationships between entities are based on cooperation and business partnerships. Standards are created from the bottom up, thanks to industry agreements and company coalitions. The flexibility of the system fosters innovation, and data is shared in collaborative networks.
Scenario 4. Swimming in Data
This is a scenario of full digitization and data openness. Market participants freely exchange information, enabling dynamic carrier allocation, elimination of empty runs, and maximum process efficiency. Transparency and system integration are the foundation of the entire industry’s operation.
According to World Economic Forum estimates, full digitization of transport can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 10–12%, mainly through better route planning, load consolidation, and smart fleet management.
The Swedish example shows that standardization and digitization are two inseparable processes that will determine the future competitiveness of the TSL industry in Europe.
Summary
Transport standardization in international networks is no longer a matter of choice but a business necessity. System fragmentation, process diversity, and lack of consistent data formats generate unnecessary costs and increase the risk of errors. Solutions like CargoON show that it is possible to create a unified platform that maintains operational consistency regardless of location, language, or team structure.
The key to success is a systematic approach to standard implementation, starting with an in-depth analysis of current processes, through pilot implementations, to full solution scaling. In an era of increasing regulatory requirements and pressure for sustainability, companies that do not invest in standardizing their transport processes may find themselves at a significant competitive disadvantage.
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Sources
- Lysionok A., Standardization in logistics. A strategic roadmap for manufacturing companies, CargoON (access: 26.09.2025 https://cargoon.eu/en/community/blog/digitalisation/standardization-in-logistics-roadmap/)
- CargoON, Digital solutions in the supply chain. Deep dive into eCMR, 2025, (access: 26.09.2025 https://cargoon.eu/en/lp/ecmr-the-future-of-logistics-and-transportation-in-europe/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=ecmr-report&utm_term=EN)
- Pernestal A., Engholm A., Bemler M., How will digitalization change road freight transport? Scenarios tested in Sweden, December 2020 (access: 30.09.2025 https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/1/304)