Transnational trade is a cornerstone of the EU with nearly 3/4 of all goods transported utilising road freight. The transport services sector employs approximately 8.8 million people in the EU; each day many goods worth billions of Euros are moved on the trans-European road network - an integral element of the supply chain. The concept of 'just in time' deliveries is now an essential element in competitive business practice and this places heavy reliance on goods delivered on time, every time.

Increased journey times, poor delivery predictability or loss of goods has a negative impact on economies and communities, causing significant financial costs to businesses and environmental damage through increased journey times and vehicle emissions.

The North Sea Region (NSR) has a unique position in terms of goods transport and logistics in Europe, playing a key role as Europe's biggest transport hub and is at the heart of this economic activity.

The use of ICT, telecommunications and data capture within the supply chain will help the NSR's competitiveness in global markets and support sustainable economic, social and environmental improvements and growth for the future.

To secure the NSR as a global competitor by providing freight customers with door to door transport services, improving job opportunities and avoiding the negative impact of congestion in the transport network, intelligent transport systems (ITS) have been developed.
NS FRITS intends to develop an ITS, based on a multi sectoral partnership and the use of ICT to enable the NSR to develop a dynamic logistics solution which is scalable across the EU.

The aim of NS FRITS is to improve efficiency, safety and security in the supply chain by the application of ITS. By investing in research and development and introducing innovative products and processes into the logistics sector this project contributes to the aim of the Lisbon and Gothenburg Strategies. It will enhance competitiveness in the NSR economy as well as achieving sustainable economic, social and environmental benefits.

The innovative use of ICT provides important opportunities to improve accessibility within the NSR by 'shrinking' real distances that exist between places and offer good access to facilities and information. It also supports the development of a knowledge-based economy and the wider use of ICT in businesses of all sizes.

The development of information hubs will dramatically improve liaison between multimodal and multinational operators in the NSR; improve traffic flow and dispersal throughout the NSR; improve predictability for the 'just in time' movement of goods; improve driver safety and reduce road casualties.

A transnational and multi-sectoral partnership approach between the public and private sector will enable the wider adoption and use of ICT applications to enable NSR to further develop efficient and effective logistics solutions.

A bi-product of NS FRITS will be a reduction in criminal activity that is highly disruptive to the economy, business and people. This is frequently committed by organised criminals likely to be involved in other serious crime including terrorism and human trafficking.

When adopted, NS FRITS will strengthen the NSR's position as an efficient and responsive region for the movement of goods and as a global logistics centre. The subsequent learning may be used to influence future government policy to protect the social and economic integrity of the goods supply chain.