Since the publication of the 6th edition of "Export - Import - Freight Forwarding," there have been some changes in international freight transport that are not particularly striking but are nonetheless significant as symptoms. The tariff simplifications in the European area mentioned in the last edition have continued, making it considerably easier for shippers to calculate and thus prepare their goods offers. This applies not only to railway tariffs but also to those in cross-border long-distance freight transport. The bilateral road freight tariffs that came into effect on November 1, 1971, between the Federal Republic of Germany on one side and Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands on the other can be seen as an encouraging start towards the harmonization and regulation of the very differently managed billing systems.