The Impact of Digitization Transport Documents on the Competitiveness of Road Freight Transport Companies

<i>Background</i>: The rapid digital transformation in logistics requires the adaptation of transport companies to electronic information management, particularly through the implementation of electronic consignment notes (e-CMR). This study examines how the digitization of transport documentation affects the competitiveness, operational efficiency, and environmental performance of road freight transport companies. <i>Methods</i>: A questionnaire survey was conducted among Slovak and Czech carriers to analyze their experience and readiness for adopting e-CMR. The collected data were evaluated using descriptive and comparative methods to quantify economic and ecological impacts, focusing mainly on invoicing efficiency and paper consumption. <i>Results</i>: The results show that only a small share of carriers currently use e-CMR, primarily due to high software costs and the lack of partner participation. Nevertheless, digitization can significantly shorten the average invoicing delay by approximately 11.5 days, releasing around 7% of tied-up working capital and improving cash flow. From an environmental perspective, the replacement of paper CMR forms could save millions of sheets annually, leading to a substantial reduction in CO₂ emissions and paper waste within the V4 region. <i>Conclusions</i>: The findings confirm that the adoption of e-CMR improves economic performance, increases transparency, and contributes to sustainability, representing a crucial step toward a more competitive and environmentally responsible road freight transport sector in Europe.