Häufig gestellte Fragen
What is the difference between ERP and TMS for a freight forwarder?
An ERP system covers the commercial processes of a freight forwarding company, i.e. accounting, invoicing, purchasing and reporting, while a transport management system (TMS) specialises in operational transport planning with dispatching, route optimisation, freight billing and shipment tracking. In practice, the two are not mutually exclusive but complementary: larger forwarders frequently couple a dispatch-strong TMS with a classic ERP, while mid-sized firms often opt for combined forwarding ERP solutions that unite both worlds in one platform. Which split makes sense depends on shipment volume, business areas such as groupage or full truckload, and the desired depth of integration.
Which EDI standards must a freight forwarding ERP support?
In European freight transport, the UN/EDIFACT standard dominates, with the message types IFTMIN for shipment registration or transport instructions, IFTSTA for status messages in track and trace, and INVOIC for electronic invoicing. Anyone involved in groupage cooperations such as System Alliance, CargoLine, IDS or VTL can hardly avoid these formats, since data exchange between the partners is handled through them. In Germany, there is also the XRechnung, which is mandatory when invoicing public-sector clients (B2G). The specific message types and versions required depend on the respective shipper, cooperation partners and customer base.
What does the CO2 surcharge on the truck toll mean for freight forwarders?
Since December 2023, the German truck toll has included a CO2 surcharge, calculated at 200 euros per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted, which has significantly increased toll costs for conventional diesel trucks. Since July 2024, vehicles with a technically permissible maximum mass above 3.5 tonnes have in principle also been subject to the toll on federal trunk roads (with exceptions, for instance for skilled trades), while zero-emission trucks remain exempt from the toll following the extension until 30 June 2031. For freight costing in the ERP, this means that toll rates must be captured per tour, precisely by vehicle and route, and passed on to customers. Automatic toll capture via Toll Collect as well as connectivity to ASFINAG or other foreign toll systems is therefore a central selection criterion.
Will the electronic consignment note eCMR be mandatory from 2026?
The electronic consignment note eCMR is the digital variant of the classic CMR paper consignment note and maps all legally relevant data of a cross-border carriage. Under the EU regulation on electronic freight transport information (eFTI), the competent authorities in the member states will be obliged from August 2026 to accept electronically provided freight documents, provided they are handled via a certified eFTI platform. This is initially an acceptance obligation on the part of authorities, not a general obligation to work exclusively digitally in B2B traffic between companies. Freight forwarders should nevertheless check whether their ERP or TMS system is eCMR-capable or can be connected to an eFTI platform, since the industry is heading towards the digital consignment note in the long run.
Are freight forwarders affected by the NIS 2 Directive?
The German NIS 2 implementation act was promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette on 5 December 2025 and has been in force since 6 December 2025, meaning heightened cybersecurity obligations now apply to many companies. Classic forwarding, transhipment and logistics services are not listed as a standalone KRITIS sector in the annex, yet freight forwarders above a certain size can fall under the rules as important or particularly important entities, for instance via their role in supply chains or in the extended sectors. Affected companies must implement structured risk management, reporting obligations for security incidents and personal accountability of the management, with violations punishable — depending on classification — by fines of up to 7 million euros (important entity) or up to 10 million euros (particularly important entity) or a percentage share of worldwide annual turnover. A binding classification should be legally reviewed case by case, since thresholds and activities are decisive.
What does implementing a freight forwarding ERP cost?
For mid-sized freight forwarders, implementation costs are typically in the range of around 3,000 to 7,000 euros per user, with telematics and tracking modules frequently added as add-ons with their own per-vehicle licences. With on-premise models, annual maintenance and update fees also apply, typically around 18 to 22 percent of the licence total, while cloud or SaaS models are instead calculated with monthly subscription fees. Total costs depend heavily on the number of dispatchers and vehicles, the number of EDI partners and interfaces to be connected, and the depth of customising. A reliable statement is therefore only possible on the basis of the individual requirements specification and several vendor quotes.