Cargo Intelligence

SMGS / CIM waybills

The Baltic region is the only place in Europe where a rail forwarder needs to understand two different gauge and documentation standards at once — SMGS (1,520 mm, the Eastern space) and CIM (1,435 mm, the EU). The Rail module recognizes both, including cases where a shipment travels through both standards.

At the transshipment point, the cargo or waybill moves from the SMGS system to CIM or vice versa — the module recognizes both types and flags this point.

How it works

01 You upload the waybill

SMGS, CIM, or a combined SMGS-CIM — the system recognizes the type from the document header and language.

02 Fields are extracted

Sender, consignee, wagon number (and tare for private wagons), cargo code, weight, loading and destination stations, RID marking for dangerous goods.

03 The transshipment point is checked

If the point isn't recognized from the known list, the document is flagged for review, not rejected as an error.

Who this matters to

Rail forwarders working between the 1,520 mm (Eastern) and 1,435 mm (EU) gauge standards who have to manually move data from differently formatted waybills.
Companies shipping cargo through Baltic-region gauge transshipment points (e.g. Šeštokai–Mockava), where documentation often changes mid-route.
Accounting and logistics departments that need wagon number, weight and cargo code data for further accounting or tracking use.

What you actually get

Structured data with a clearly flagged document type (SMGS / CIM / mixed), ready for further export.
Automatic checking of the gauge transshipment point against a known Baltic-region list (Šeštokai–Mockava and others), with a "needs review" flag for unrecognized cases.
A unified data format regardless of whether the document was an SMGS, CIM, or combined SMGS-CIM waybill.

Ready for the Rail Baltica changes

The first Rail Baltica section (Poland–Lithuania) is planned for completion in 2026–2028 — the new European-standard corridor will add to, not replace, the existing 1,520 mm network, so the SMGS/CIM duality and gauge transshipment points will remain relevant for a long time. Our Rail module already supports both standards today, and we'll update the list of supported transshipment points as new, genuinely operational nodes appear. Read more

Frequently asked questions

Will Rail Baltica quickly replace SMGS/CIM documentation?

No. The first section (Poland–Lithuania) is planned for completion in 2026–2028 and covers only that specific route — the remaining sections are planned for 2029–2035. The new standard will add to, not replace, the existing 1,520 mm network, so both standards will run in parallel for a long time.

What is a gauge-change transshipment point, and why does it matter?

It's a location where cargo is transferred from 1,520 mm to 1,435 mm gauge (or vice versa), e.g. Šeštokai–Mockava between Lithuania and Poland. It's often a significant documentation point, so the system checks it separately.

Are all SMGS fields already fully covered?

Honestly — the widely confirmed common fields are covered (sender, consignee, wagon, weight, stations). Rarer, SMGS-specific columns may require additional review — this module is continuously refined based on real documents.

How long are uploaded documents kept?

Original documents are kept for 24 months from upload, road toll documents for 48 months, customs documents for 40 months. After the period expires the original file is deleted automatically, the data extracted from it remains. If you want a specific document removed earlier (GDPR Art. 17 right to erasure), contact us by email — there is currently no self-service delete button in the portal.

Cross-link: wagon demurrage

This module extracts SMGS and CIM waybill data — wagon numbers, stations and dates. The same data lets you reconcile the demurrage invoice against the actual transport. Wagon demurrage audit

How it's purchased

Included in any Cargo plan. The plan limits the number of modules: Starter 1, Professional 2, Business 3, Enterprise all four.

Choose a plan with the Rail module All modules and pricing

Rail

SMGS and CIM waybills: why Baltic forwarders need to understand both

The Baltic region is the only place in Europe where a rail forwarder has to manage two different gauge and documentation standards at once. Why it's costly, and how to work with it.

Read